The Grateful Dead win a much-deserved Grammy for Lifetime Achievement.

Gnarls Barkley performance - with both Cee Lo and Danger Mouse in pilot uniforms. It's a toned-down version to start out with an orchestra and a large group of backup singers dressed as flight attendants backing them up. I prefer the sped-up normal version.

Best Rap Album goes to Ludacris. I was surprised by Pharrell's nomination as the album got bad reviews. The category was weak this year - I thought it was between Luda and T.I. Good to see Ludacris get recognized. Funny that he gave a shout-out to Oprah and Bill O'Reilly.

Mary J. Blige performs. It's a good song with a solid vocal, but I've never understood what causes people to say she's so amazing. I think she's lumped together with Beyonce and other R&B vocalists that have some pop appeal. I don't see a unique quality that makes her stand out. That's not saying she can't sing - I just don't see her as "above and beyond." the song did have a powerful ending though...

LeAnn Rimes has some interesting veneers... I'll leave it at that.

The Country Album of the Year goes to The Dixie Chicks. It's good to see that all the controversy didn't impact the awards. Funny that they won for Best Country when a lot of country stations shunned them. Kudos to Maines for working in a reference to "The Simpsons."

Carrie Underwood performing - and it's straight country. She has an effortless singing voice. Rascal Flatts are now singing "Hotel California." Yikes. I'm not liking this version... The singer is also doing a weak air guitar... Next up is "Desperado" by Underwood. She did it well. Why is she singing two songs? Hmm...Rascal Flatts again singing a bad version of "Life in the Fast Lane." They're joined by Underwood who isn't really helping... I guess I'm not a fan of country versions of rock songs.