Amy Winehouse wins big at the Grammy Awards

Amy Winehouse was the big winner at the 50th Grammy Awards last night - dedicating her gongs to locked-up husband Blake Fielder Civil and Camden Town.

But the star lost out on the prized Album of The Year, which was given to Herbie Hancock for his album 'River: The Joni Letters.'

Elsewhere the 24-year-old 'Rehab' artist swept the board in her categories picking up Record of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Song of the Year and two awards during the pre-broadcast presentation, in the categories of Best Pop Vocal Album for "Back to Black" and Best Female Pop Vocal. She picked up a total of five trophies.

Winehouse was unable to attend the event but appeared via a live satellite link from London with electrifying performances of her hits 'Rehab' and 'I'm no Good.'

Winehouse gave her first acceptance speech of the evening as she collected the award for Record of The Year for 'Rehab.'

She said: "This is to my mum and dad - for my Blake incarcerated. And to London, this is for London because Camden Town is burning down."

Pop singer Cyndi Lauper - who won Best New Artist in 1985 - jumped for joy as she announced Winehouse first win of the evening for Best New Artist presenting alongside teen pop sensation Miley Cyrus.

Winehouse was unable to pickup her awards in person after failing to secure a work visa to travel to the United States until late Friday. By that stage, it was too late to change her plans. Instead she performed in front of a small crowd at a London recording studio.

The anniversary spectacular was broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles featured memorable performances from Beyonce, Tina Turner, Rhianna, Alicia Keys, The Foo Fighters, Carrie Underwood and Aretha Franklin.

Kanye West had led the pack with eight nominations going into the ceremony. He left with four awards - Best Rap Album for 'Graduation,' Best Solo Performance for 'Stronger,' Best Rap Song for 'Good Life' and Best Rap Performance by a Duo o Group for his collaboration with Common on 'Southside."'

At one point the star was left fuming when producers tried to cut short his acceptance speech dedicating his win to his dead mother. The organisers played music to try to hurry him off stage as he accepted the Best Rap Album of the Year gong for his hit-album 'Graduation'.

Not even Kanye's white sunglasses could hide his disgust as he fumed: "Come on? You're going to play music on me?"

"Just to say something about my mother. I appreciate all the support and all the prayers . . . . It would be in good taste to stop the music."

When the background music stopped the crowd cheered as Kanye paid an emotional tribute to mother Donda West, who died late last year following complications after plastic surgery.

Kanye went on: "I know you are really proud of me right now and I know you wouldn't want me to stop. You want me to be the number one artist in the world and mama, all I'm going to do is keep making you proud. We run this."

Earlier in the televised show, West performed 'Stronger' wearing a jacket with flashing LED lights and was joined on stage by French techno group Daft Punk. It was the long-running duo's first-ever TV performance in a career that has lasted almost 15 years.

Kanye's voice than cracked with emotion as he performed the song 'Hey Mamma' from his album 'Late Registration.'

Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra opened the 50th annual Grammy Awards with a stunning virtual duet. A touch of movie magic allowed the RnB singer to join forces with Sinatra - who kicked off the very first ceremony half a century ago - to perform Learnin' The Blues. "To appear on the Grammy's is to duet with history," said Keys. "From the moment you first fall in love with making music you dream of being able to perform on this show.

"At the Grammy's the faces might change and the styles might turn but the mission remains the same. We honour our past celebrate our present and look always to the future. Here's to the next fifty years."

Keys also left the ceremonty with the first award of the night, female R&B performance.

Keys also won two Grammys going into Sunday night's broadcast to go along with eight wins in previous years. "To win a Grammy is the highest honor for a musician," she said.

"It's a big honor and an exciting night forever."

Also earning a Grammy was U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who defeated two presidents - Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter - to take home the award for best spoken-word album.

The U.S. politican won for his book, "The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream.

By Owen Williams, Feb 11 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy