Beyonce’, Taylor Swift Big Winners At Grammy Awards

LOS ANGELES – Beyonce dominated much of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards ceremony tonight, collecting six statuettes including song of the year for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” but country-pop sensation Taylor Swift walked off with the album of the year prize for “Fearless.”

“Our families are freaking out in their living rooms,” the 20-year-old Swift said as she accepted the award at the Staples Center ceremony. “My dad and my little brother are losing their minds in the living room right now.

“This is for my dad,” she said. “Thank you for all those times that you said I could do whatever I wanted in life. My mom, you’re my best friend. And this is just for all of us when we’re 80 years old and we are telling the same stories over and over again to our grandkids and they’re so annoyed with us. This is the story we’re going to be telling over and over again, in 2010 that we got to win album of the year at the Grammys.”

Swift, who rocketed to stardom in the past year — winning top prizes at the American Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards, won a total of four Grammys, including best country album for “Fearless” and best country song and best female country vocal performance for “White Horse.”

Her win album of the year slightly overshadowed what was a dominating night for Beyonce, who was nominated for best album for “I Am … Sasha Fierce.” Also nominated in the category were Black Eyed Peas for “The E.N.D.,” Lady Gaga for “The Fame” and Dave Matthews Band for “Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King.”

Beyonce, who went into the ceremony as the top nominee with 10, still collected a half-dozen Grammys — a record for a female artist — including the song of the year prize for “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).” That Grammy is awarded to the songwriters — Beyonce, Thaddis Harrell, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart.

Swift was nominated in the song of the year category for her song “You Belong With Me.”

Beyonce also won Grammys for female R&B performance, traditional R&B performance, R&B song, contemporary R&B album and best female pop vocal performance for “Halo.”

“This has been such an amazing night for me,” she said while accepting the award for “Halo.” “I’d love to thank my family for all of their support, including my husband (Jay-Z), I love you. And I’d like to thank all of the fans for their support over the years.”

Beyonce and Swift, who went into the ceremony with eight nominations, were each nominated in all three top Grammy categories — song, record and album of the year. While Beyonce won song of the year and Swift won album of the year, Kings of Leon was a surprise winner for record of the year for “Use Somebody.”

“Thank you fans,” Kings of Leon’s Nathan Followill said. “First of all, amazing, we have the best fans in the world. Thank you God, thank you family.”

He later added, “Whoever else I forgot, I’ll buy you shots afterward.”

Green Day later won best rock album for “21st Century Breakdown,” and lead singer Billie Jo Armstrong wrapped up his acceptance speech by saying, “Now I’m gonna go have shots with Kings of Leon.”

Meanwhile, the country group Zac Brown Band won the Grammy for best new artist.

“It’s just such an honor to be on stage and to be sharing in this big amalgam of music here,” Brown said.

Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West won for best rap/sung collaboration for “Run This Town.” It was a personal triumph of sorts for Rihanna, who was famously assaulted before last year’s Grammy ceremony by then-boyfriend Chris Brown — largely overshadowing the awards show itself.

“I just want to thank Kanye and Jay-Z for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful song,” she said.

Jay-Z said, “I want to thank Rihanna for her contribution. She made this song everything it is. I want to thank the genius that is Kanye West.”

Talk show host Stephen Colbert won the Grammy for best comedy album for “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!”

“It’s a Christmas album, so obviously I should thank Jesus Christ for having such a great birthday,” Colbert said.

Here is a list of winners from Sunday night’s Grammy Awards ceremony at Staples Center:

Record Of The Year — “Use Somebody,” Kings Of Leon

Album Of The Year — “Fearless,” Taylor Swift

Song Of The Year — “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyonce)

Best New Artist — Zac Brown Band

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance — “Halo,” Beyonce

Best Rock Album — “21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration — “Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

Best Country Album — “Fearless,” Taylor Swift

Best Comedy Album — “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!,” Stephen Colbert