Lady Gaga, Rihanna, The Band Perry and other music stars start the countdown to the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.
Rapper turned TV-star, LL Cool J, pulled double duty as host and performer - joining Grand Master Flash and Common for a rendition of the rap song "The Message".
Usher helped Valerie Simpson pay tribute to her late husband, Nick Ashford.
Ashford and Simpson made music together for 47 years before his death in August this year.
Lady Gaga returned to close the show by turning her song "Without You" into a duet with country stars Sugarland.
This is the fourth year the concert has been held to announce the Grammy nominees.
The awards will be handed out on February 12.
Alicia Powell, Reuters.
