Show Bits brings you Sunday’s 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. ollow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.
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QUEEN LATIFAH? SHE WAS QUEEN COMMISH FOR THE NIGHT
The weddings of 33 couples during the Grammy Awards were legally presided over by Queen Latifah. The rapper-actress-talk show host had to be sworn in as a commissioner by the state of California to perform the ceremony.
“You can call me Queen Commish for a little longer,” she joked backstage Sunday night.
Latifah said she’s not an ordained minister and her special powers expired at midnight.
“It was something I took very seriously,” she said. “That is someone’s life commitment to one another, you want to make sure you do it right. That’s what sunk in for me.”
The marriages took place in the aisle of the Staples Center during Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ performance of the gay rights anthem “Same Love.”
“To have your wedding in front of 100 million people is pretty momentous,” Latifah said. “I can say I was here and that will not leave me. I look forward to dashing off and signing all their wedding certificates.”
- Beth Harris - Twitter, www.twitter.com/bethharrisap
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ROCKED OUT BY THE END, RIGHT OUT THE DOOR
By the time Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age and Lindsey Buckingham hit the stage to close out the Grammys show, many celebs in attendance had already headed for the limo lineup outside, including Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
But there were a couple of holdouts: Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. The Beatles stuck around until - as they once sang - The End.
- Derrik Lang - Twitter, www.twitter.com/derrikjlang
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WEDDING FEVER AT THE GRAMMYS
Couples exchanged rings in the aisle at the Grammy Awards as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed their gay rights anthem “Same Love.”
With Queen Latifah presiding from the stage and the music playing, 33 straight and gay couples lined the aisle dressed in wedding finery. Under Latifah’s command, they exchanged rings near the end of Sunday night’s show televised on CBS.
Joining Macklemore on the song were Mary Lambert, Trombone Shorty and Madonna, who wore an all-white cowboy suit and carried a cane.
Katy Perry caught a bouquet as the song ended and country star Keith Urban had tears in his eyes.
- Beth Harris - Twitter, www.twitter.com/bethharrisap
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STANDING URBA-TION: KEITH ON HIS FEET
Every time country crooner Keith Urban couldn’t see a Grammy performance from his front row seat, he stood up and took a gander.
Urban was on his feet for several performers, including Lorde, Sara Bareilles and Carole King. He was also one of the very first celebs on his feet for “Same Love” and was in tears by the end, as was Katy Perry.
- Derrik Lang - Twitter, www.twitter.com/derrikjlang
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QUICKQUOTE: LORDE
“Thank you everyone who has let this song explode, because it’s been mental.” - Lorde in her acceptance speech after winning the Grammy Award for song of the year for her hit “Royals.”
-Anthony McCartney - Twitter, www.twitter.com/mccartneyAP
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OSBOURNE ADMITS HE MESSED UP RINGO INTRO
Ozzy Osbourne had a very simple explanation for his flub on stage, when he appeared to lose his place while reading the teleprompter introducing Ringo Starr. The incident caused Osbourne’s Black Sabbath bandmates Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi to crack up.
“I completely (expletive) it up,” he told reporters backstage as the group talked about their best metal performance win for “God is Dead?”
- Chris Talbott, Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott
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ABOUT THE WOMEN IN JAY-Z’S LIFE
The women in Jay-Z’s life got some extra attention at the Grammy Awards.
The rapper performed “Drunk in Love” with wife Beyonce before winning best rap/sung collaboration for “Holy Grail,” featuring Justin Timberlake.
Jay and Bey held hands during their performance and snuggled up in their seats as presenter Jamie Foxx talked about Beyonce, jokingly apologizing for staring at her backstage and noting at one point, “All the pregnant women are like, man, what do I need to do to get a body like that.”
Jay-Z also gave a shout-out to daughter Blue Ivy from the stage as he turned his Grammy on its side, cone up: “I want to tell Blue that look, Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you.”
- Chris Talbott - Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott___
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QUICKQUOTE: BRUNO MARS
“I want to dedicate this award to my mother. Ma, I know you’re watching. I hope you’re smiling. I love you.” - Bruno Mars, dedicating his best pop vocal album award to his mother who died last year.
-Anthony McCartney - Twitter, www.twitter.com/mccartneyAP
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STARS CLINK DRINKS IN PLASTIC CUPS
Katy Perry noticed Robin Thicke sitting in front of her and reached out to toast the Blurred Lines singer during Ringo Starr’s performance.
Both pop stars were drinking out of plastic cups - though the cups weren’t quite as glamorous as the new “sippy cup” Jay-Z joked that he acquired for his daughter Blue as he accepted the Grammy for best rap/sung collaboration for “Holy Grail.”
No alcohol was sold inside the Staples Center lobby before the show.
- Derrik Lang - Twitter, www.twitter.com/derrikjlang
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THE REASON PINK FLEW THROUGH THE AIR
How did Pink fly across the Staples Center during the Grammy telecast?
There’s a track installed in scaffolding specially designed to transport her from the center of the arena to center stage, where she joined Nate Ruess to perform “Just Give Me a Reason.”
- Derrik Lang - Twitter, www.twitter.com/derrikjlang
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PAUL MCCARTNEY: WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
The day Paul McCartney stole away with Dave Grohl to write and record a new song, there were two other guys in the studio that the former Beatle didn’t recognize. Joining Grohl and McCartney in creating “Cut Me Some Slack’” were Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear.
“It was magic for me playing with these guys,” McCartney said backstage Sunday after they won a Grammy for best rock song. “Tell you the truth, I didn’t know who they were. I found myself in the middle of a Nirvana reunion.”
- Beth Harris, www.Twitter.com/bethharrisap
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FROM YAWNS TO ROCKING OUT: GRAMMY CELEB REAX
Inside the Staples Center, the celebrity reactions to the Grammys were ranging from enthusiastic - Taylor Swift rocking out to Lorde, everyone heating up over Beyonce and Jay-Z - to downright bored.
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong yawned during the best new artist presentation, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis sat stone-faced during Taylor Swift’s performance.
- Derrik Lang - Twitter, www.twitter.com/derrikjlang
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TIP YOUR HAT TO NEW GRAMMY STAR: PHARRELL’S HAT
Pharrell Williams’ hat is the fashion star of the night at the Grammy Awards - on Twitter.
The puffy brown Canadian Mountie-style fedora - or should that be phedora? - with a big brim was one of the night’s boldest fashion statements.
Williams’ choice of a tight red track jacket only added to the unconventional look amid tuxedos and evening gowns worn by other attendees. Like Prince’s cane, Pharrell’s hat had its own Twitter handle within minutes of Williams’ first appearance on the broadcast, and companies like Gain and Arby’s were trying to horn in on the attention.
Williams won producer of the year Sunday, his fourth Grammy.
- Chris Talbott - Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott
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PHARRELL SPEAKS FOR THE MASKED MEN OF DAFT PUNK
Pharrell showed Grammy viewers just how the mask-wearing guys of Daft Punk would handle an acceptance speech.
Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo, who do not speak in public or reveal their faces, deferred to Pharrell with a bow of their robotic heads after the electronic pioneers won best pop duo/group performance for “Get Lucky.”
Producer of the year winner Pharrell began his speech by saying, “On behalf of the robots … ” and noted, “Of course they want to thank their families.”
- Chris Talbott - Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott
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PAUL, RINGO … AND LES?
Running a major corporation that owns the network that broadcasts the Grammys should be good for something, right?
Maybe that’s why, after LL Cool J introduced Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to the audience at the opening of the awards show, the CBS camera cut to a picture of someone many people in the viewing audience wouldn’t know.
Those in the entertainment business recognized Leslie Moonves, though. He’s the influential chairman of the CBS Corp., which earned him a good seat and the camera shot right at the beginning of the show.
- David Bauder - Twitter, www.twitter.com/@dbauder
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FINAL GRAMMY PREP: LIGHTS AND RUN-THROUGHS
Inside the Staples Center, last-minute preparations were underway as the starting time for the live Grammys telecast approached.
For the opening act, dozens of lights were erected surrounding a single chair. On the other side of the stage, members of Black Sabbath ran through lines and practiced where to stand, as Sharon Osbourne, wife of lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, watched from the sidelines. Meanwhile, in the first few rows of the audience, those selected to occupy the mosh pit kept celebrities’ seats warm underneath strands of twinkling lights before being loaded into two pits directly in front of the stage.
- Derrik Lang - Twitter, www.twitter.com/derrikjlang
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DUO CIVIL WARS’ FUTURE IN DOUBT DESPITE GRAMMY WIN
The song appeared on the duo’s self-titled second album, which was released after White and Williams decided to take a break from working together.
The win was something of a surprise, coming against Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton; Kelly Clarkson and Vince Gill; Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban; and Little Big Town.
“I’d like to apologize to Dolly Parton for depriving her of anything at all,” White joked. “She’s one of my biggest heroes.”
White made no mention of Williams, who did not accompany him to the stage but has been in attendance during Grammy Week.
- Chris Talbott - Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott
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BIEBER’S A PUNCH LINE FOR KATHY GRIFFIN AT GRAMMYS
Kathy Griffin didn’t waste any time taking it bawdy after winning her first comedy album Grammy Award on her sixth nomination Sunday.
She thanked the recently arrested Justin Bieber, joking, “I want to thank Justin Bieber for giving me his relax juice,” then made a reference to Bieber’s private parts.
“I’ve never made my 93-year-old alcoholic mother more proud,” she added.
- Chris Talbott - Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott
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BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR TYE TRIBBETT: 2 GRAMMY AWARDS
Gospel singer Tye Tribbett got something special for his birthday Sunday: two Grammy awards.
Tribbett won best gospel album and best gospel song, letting out a long and loud “Woooooooo” after each win.
Tribbett turned 38, but said “I’m 22 on stage.”
As he listed off his thank yous, he thanked his producer, then realized he’d made a mistake since he served as his own: “It just sounds like something you’re supposed to say.”
- Chris Talbott - Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott
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WILLIE NELSON ON BIEBER: LET HIM GROW UP
Country star Willie Nelson is known for his outlaw image, and he got a bit philosophical when asked about Justin Bieber’s recent arrest.
“He’ll be all right,” said Nelson of the 19-year-old pop star. “Let him grow up and then we’ll talk about him.”
Nelson has been arrested several times for marijuana possession.
He appeared on the red carpet before the Grammys Sunday with his buddies Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard. The three country legends are making another album together.
- Michele Marie
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STEVE MARTIN MOVED SO FAST HE FORGOT EDIE BRICKELL
Winners at the annual pre-telecast for the Grammy awards are warned to move it or lose it when it comes to acceptance speeches, and Steve Martin took the advice literally.
Martin fast-jogged to the stage after winning best American roots song for his collaboration with Edie Brickell, “Love Has Come for You.”
Martin made it to the stage before realizing he’d left Brickell far behind. He turned around, fetched her and walked the last 50 feet the second time.
“We are truly stunned. I can speak for Edie, and I will,” Martin joked.
- Chris Talbott - Twitter, www.twitter.com/chris_talbott
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BEST REMIX WINNER WORKING ON NEW MILEY CYRUS SONG
The man whose remix genius helped create a hit for Lana Del Rey says he is working his magic for Miley Cyrus.
Producer Cedric Gervais says Cyrus asked him to remix her upcoming single “Adore You.”
Gervais won the best remixed recording Grammy Sunday for his work on Del Rey’s first top 10 hit, “Summertime Sadness.”
The French remixer said Cyrus personally called him to help with her song, which he said was “cool.”
Gervais has never met Del Rey, though their song has become an international success. The 34-year-old said he normally meets the artists he works with, but “it doesn’t matter if you meet them or not. It’s the song that matters.”
Cyrus has performed covers of “Summertime Sadness” at live shows.
-Mesfin Fekadu, Twitter, www.Twitter.com/MusicMesfin
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MODERN FAMILY’S SARAH HYLAND: SHE’S A ’MUSIC HEAD’
Sarah Hyland of the ABC sitcom “Modern Family” dropped by the Grammys to cheer on pal Taylor Swift, whose album “Red” is up for album of the year.
Hyland, 23, who plays Haley Dunphy on the show, wore a short black-and-white dress with black cage heels.
“I am a music head,” she said. “I love all types of music, from Kanye to Taylor.”
- Beth Harris - Twitter, www.twitter.com/bethharrisap
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RED CARPET A CAPELLA FROM YOUNGEST GRAMMY NOMINEES
The youngest nominees at Sunday’s Grammy Awards charmed their way down the red carpet.
Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, Oona Laurence and Sophia Gennusa are up for best musical theatre album for “Matilda The Musical.” The girls, all ages 10 or 11 from Glen Rock, Pa., say they’ve been invited to two “after, after parties.” They sang a capella during carpet interviews.
- Beth Harris - Twitter, www.twitter.com/bethharrisap
____ WATCH OUT IF INDIE ROCKER BERNINGER WINS
Matt Berninger had some good-natured fighting words for his competitors in the alternative album category at the Grammys.
“We will rub it in their faces if we win!” joked Berninger, frontman for the indie rock band The National, a few hours before the awards show.
The National was nominated for its album “Trouble Will Find Me” against albums by Neko Case, Nine Inch Nails, Tame Impala and Vampire Weekend.
- Beth Harris - Twitter, www.twitter.com/bethharrisap
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GARY CLARK JR.: ROCK, R&B AND A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY
Gary Clark Jr. says his roots are in rhythm and blues, but he’s nominated for a Grammy in that category as well as for best rock song.
“I grew up listening to R&B,” he said on the red carpet several hours before the awards show. “To be nominated for that is pretty major.”
He’s up for an award for best traditional R&B performance for “Please Come Home,” as well as scoring a nomination for best rock song for “Ain’t Messin’ Round.”
And viewers will see him perform in yet another genre, country music, when he jams during the telecast with Keith Urban.
“I didn’t realize how comfortable I was with all the country music,” Clark said. “Throw a little twang on the guitar and see what happens.”
- Beth Harris - Twitter, www.twitter.com/bethharrisap
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