Grammys good to Vandross, Beyoncé

By Nekesa Mumbi Moody
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Balladeer Luther Vandross, recovering from a stroke, won four Grammys yesterday including Song of the Year for "Dance With My Father," and Beyoncé é earned a record-tying five honors.

Luther Vandross

Beyoncé Knowles

Janet Jackson's breast-baring at the hands of partner Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl halftime show remained the major subplot, as CBS and Jackson offered conflicting reports about why she was not there.

"I know it's been a rough week on everybody," said Timberlake, stifling a self-deprecating laugh while accepting the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance award for "Cry Me a River." He brought his mother as his date. "What occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable, and I apologize if you guys are offended."

Vandross won for Best Song, Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Performance for "Dance With My Father"; and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for "The Closer I Get to You," a remake he did with Beyoncé.

He was unable to attend, but sent a videotaped message, his first public remarks since his stroke in April 2003.

The moody British rock band Coldplay, up against four hip-hop nominees for record of the year, won for its song "Clocks."

Rockers Evanescence won Best New Artist in an upset over rapper 50 Cent — who briefly walked onstage as Evanescence accepted the award.

Rock singer Warren Zevon, who rushed to complete a final album before his September death from lung cancer, won his first two Grammy Awards. June Carter Cash also won two posthumous awards, and her husband, Johnny Cash, and former Beatle George Harrison were also honored after their deaths.

The 46th annual awards show began at 4:55 p.m. — five minutes before airtime — with Prince performing "Purple Rain," marking the 20th year of the groundbreaking song and movie.

Beyoncé, in a tight dress with a feather skirt that fleetingly revealed her pink panties, joined Prince on his hits and then sang "Crazy in Love," which won two trophies — for Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Her boyfriend, Jay-Z, won two awards for collaborating on that hit.

Beyoncé also won Best Female R&B Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for "Dangerously in Love," and Best R&B Performance by a duo or group for her song with Vandross.

OutKast, nominated for a leading six Grammys, won three: best album, best urban/alternative performance for "Hey Ya!" and best rap album for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below."

Other multiple winners included Jack White of The White Stripes and Eminem, with two each, and bluegrass singer Alison Krauss, who had three.

CBS said it agreed to allow Timberlake and Jackson to appear at the Grammys as long as they apologized on the air for their Super Bowl stunt.

But a statement from Jackson's camp said CBS and the Grammys first asked her not to attend, then reversed themselves and re-invited her, but she chose not to attend.