USA TODAY

Nothing like a little controversy to dominate an awards show.

Rapper Eminem overshadowed everything else going on at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards telecast tonight — which was plenty. U2 won awards for rock group performance and two of the most prestigious trophies: song of the year and record of the year for “Beautiful Day.”

Shelby Lynne, who has released six albums and was the subject of a USA TODAY cover story more than a decade ago, won a controversial best-new-artist award.

The venerable duo Steely Dan won its first Grammys in a nearly three-decade career, for best pop album and pop group performance. Crossover country star Faith Hill won for country female vocal and country collaboration.

Eminem, however, was the buzz. Ever since “The Marshall Mathers LP” was nominated for album of the year, he has been the focal point for politicians, musicians and moralizers of all persuasions thanks to anti-gay and violent lyrics on the record. The firestorm’s intensity increased when it was announced he’d perform on the show with openly gay performer Elton John.

But Eminem was as meek as an Osmond brother in accepting one of three early Grammys he won (for best rap album, rap solo performance and — with his producer, Dr. Dre — rap group or duo performance). Accompanied onstage by his protege group, D-12, he thanked (in language that rendered the on-duty CBS bleeper operator unnecessary) all who could “see past the controversy for what the album is ... and isn’t.”

Before the show, which was picketed by an estimated 100 protesters mobilized against Eminem, the rapper was the topic du jour among musicians assembled backstage. Downplaying the furor, he said sarcastically, “The suspense is killing me.”

Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, competing with Eminem for album of the year, said, “Eminem should win. We feel he’s made the most culturally significant album, whether you think it’s good or bad.” Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk said if Eminem wins, “It would make parents try harder.” His compatriot Tom Morello said, “There’s only two opinions about freedom of speech: You’re either for it or against it.”

The show was kicked into gear by Madonna, who arrived onstage in style, chauffeured in a limo by underage (13) rapper Lil’ Bow Wow. She sang her recent hit “Music,” writhing on the car’s hood.

Rivaling Madonna for production values was a performance by R&B group Grammy winner Destiny’s Child — a medley of hits “Independent Women Part I” and R&B song of the year “Say My Name,” the latter featuring the trio bedecked in spangly blue bikinis. ’N Sync (with singer Justin Timberlake sporting freshly shorn curls) provided a lavish take on ballad hit “This I Promise You.” Christina Aguilera’s Spanish-language showcase was another occasion to trot out the stage explosives.

But the oddest performance was by the unlikely threesome of much-lauded R&B singer/songwriter Jill Scott, who lost to Lynne in the best-new-artist competition; dance wizard Moby, who lost the dance-recording award to the Baha Men’s ubiquitous “Who Let the Dogs Out,” and the Blue Man Group, who accompanied a bluesy gospel duet by Scott and Moby by pounding on peculiar percussive instruments, the group’s faces painted in its trademark color.

A straightforward performance of “Beautiful Day” by U2 provided a stark contrast to the spectaculars on display. Other more conventional performers included Macy Gray, Paul Simon, Faith Hill and a duet of Lynne and Sheryl Crow.

U2 also provided a couple of much-needed humorous moments. Accepting the group’s song of the year award, Bono joked, “I’m feeling a strange emotion: humility.” Earlier, in a pointed comment aimed at the plethora of award winners who ritually offer thanks to God and their parents, he said, “I want to thank God and my mother, but I have this picture of God looking down at moments like this and saying, `Please don’t thank me for that song.’ ”

An equally wry Tony Bennett, winner of a lifetime achievement award, cracked, “My records sell more now than when I was the Britney Spears of my time.”

New-artist winner Lynne acknowledged that her victory after 13 years of recording was ironic, but added, “It really feels good. I felt like, `Why not?’ I’ve been around for so long. Tonight feels new, but the rest has been a lot of hard work. I can look at this Grammy and feel like I deserve it, dammit.”

Western band Riders in the Sky’s Too Slim, whose group was one of two winners from the “Toy Story 2” soundtrack — they won best country group performance for “Woody’s Roundup”; Randy Newman’s “When She Loved Me” won best movie song — said Riders had been lobbying for a Western category to distinguish it from Country.

Otis Willams, the only original member of The Temptations, hitmakers in five decades, was excited about the group’s best traditional album victory for “Ear-Resistible.” “A lot of times we’ve been written off, but we’re gonna ride the hair off this horse before we get off,” he said.

With 100 categories in all, most were handed out before the telecast — 87 awards in 93 minutes. Multiple trophies were won by blues titan B.B. King, rapper and Eminem producer Dr. Dre, R&B idol D’Angelo, and Destiny’s Child members Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland.