Early in the Grammys show last night, the Dixie Chicks defiantly sang they were "still waiting" to make nice after the uproar that greeted Natalie Maines' negative comments about President Bush in 2003. At least they got some satisfaction by evening's end: The Chicks, who had been shut out of recent country music awards shows, took home five trophies. "For the first time in my life I'm speechless," Maines said.

The evening also belonged to a woman whose 15-year wait to be not just the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul but the queen of music's biggest awards night was over — a difficult, street-tough diva who, as she said again and again in her acceptance speeches, has learned to make nice: Mary J. Blige.

"I want to use this success to build bridges, not to burn them," Blige said as she accepted the award for best female R&B vocal performance, one of three trophies she took home from L.A.'s Staples Center for songs from her appropriately named album, "The Breakthrough."

Other multiple award winners at the 49th Grammys were the Red Hot Chili Peppers (three, all in categories not presented on the CBS telecast), John Mayer (two) and Justin Timberlake (two).

The Chicks set an unusually outspoken tone for a show known for either genteel musicianship or grand productions. They weren't alone: songman John Legend sang "Coming Home," a piano ballad about a soldier. The alternative soul duo Gnarls Barkley performed their ballad "Crazy" to a martial beat while wearing flight uniforms that seemed to be an homage to the film "United 93," especially when Cee-Lo sang, "My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on the limb." Even Shakira and Wyclef Jean finished their belly-dancing Busby Berkeley homage "Hips Don't Lie" by promising, "No fighting!"

It was a vindication for the Chicks, who have been largely shut out of country radio since 2003. Grammy voters honored not just the Chicks, but fellow country performer Carrie Underwood as well, the 2005 "American Idol" winner who was named best new artist. "I love country," shouted Underwood, still breathless from singing a tribute to the Eagles with Rascal Flatts.

The awards show also tipped its hat to "American Idol" with the My Grammy Moment contest, in which viewers could vote on which of three unknown singers would get to perform live onstage with Justin Timberlake.

Blige talks about contrition, but singing with a full orchestra, her performance of "Be Without You" and "I Never Wanna Live Without You" was all about, well, breaking through.

In general, most of the Grammy performers preferred to make their mark on the evening with dramatic musical performances, not big sets and dance numbers.

The show started with the Police singing their 1978 hit "Roxanne." It was the first time the group played together since 2003 when they performed at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

OPRAH, O'REILLY GET BACKHANDED THANKS

LOS ANGELES — Ludacris gave a "special shout-out" to Oprah Winfrey and Bill O'Reilly as he picked up the Grammy for best rap album last night.

"I love ya," said the rapper-actor, tongue firmly in cheek.

Ludacris and other rappers such as 50 Cent and Ice Cube have been critical of Winfrey, suggesting she has "a problem with hip-hop." Winfrey has insisted she does listen to hip-hop. A message left with her show wasn't immediately returned yesterday.

O'Reilly criticized Ludacris on his Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor," which led to Pepsi dropping Ludacris in an ad campaign.

CROONER LEARNS BY LISTENING

Tony Bennett, a double winner at last night's Grammys, said he's still learning about music. "The best way to learn is to listen to the audience," he said. "When you listen to the audience, they will tell you what they like. I wish these big corporations, instead of telling the audience what they should have, would listen."

WHO DIDN'T SHE THANK?

Mary J. Blige may have set an awards-show record to go with the armful of Grammys she won yesterday: most people thanked in a single acceptance speech.

Accepting her R&B album of the year award, Blige dropped 55 names — including God, Jesus, her three children, record-company executives and the tape delivery guy. Blige talked for nearly two minutes, including going on for a good 30 seconds after the music started playing to signal her to wind down.

NANI? MAYER JAMS JAPANESE

For John Mayer, the language of love might be Japanese.

The Grammy-winning singer was asked by Ryan Seacrest on the Grammy red carpet about Jessica Simpson, to whom Mayer has been romantically linked. Mayer answered in Japanese and then suggested Seacrest get someone to "decode" what he said and "subtitle it."

The translation came back that Mayer had said: "She is very beautiful, and you are the last to know."

THE DAWG DEFENDS 'IDOL'

"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson was wearing his record producer hat at last night's Grammys, but he took a moment to defend the TV talent show, which has come under fire for seemingly amping up the personal level of criticism.

Jackson said the success of show alums such as Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson shows the program opens doors.

"These kids definitely help to validate what we do," Jackson said. "... The truth of the matter is that at the end of the season, someone great that wouldn't have had a chance otherwise, wins it and gets a shot at a career, and I'm really happy about that."

$300 ESPRESSO MAKER? HOW ABOUT FREE — IF YOU’RE A STAR

Lionel Richie summed up the appeal of the swag suite at the Grammy Awards pretty succinctly as he strode through: "Free! Free, free, free!"

John Legend, Rihanna, Smokey Robinson and James Blunt were among the stars who picked up a wide array of free stuff, including skin-care products, video games, $400 pendants, $300 espresso makers, passes to Disneyland and stereo systems for iPods.

Presenters and performers are given $30,000 worth of gifts from Distinctive Assets, while those who pop into the gifting suites can pick up an additional $15,000 in swag.

— Vignettes by Sandy Cohen, Associated Press