MUMBAI: On 8 February 2009, Irish rockers, U2, kicked off the 51st GRAMMY Awards with a performance of their new single Get On Your Boots.

The ceremony took place at Los Angeles’ Staples Center with a staggering line up of talent performing throughout the night.

It was Lil Wayne’s night as the awards kept coming, following his huge success in 2008 with album Tha Carter III. He took Best Rap Solo Performance for A Milli, Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III, Lollipop was crowned Best Rap Song (from album Tha Carter III ) and, for his collaboration with Jay-Z, T.I. and Kanye West on Swagga Like Us, shared Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group.

M.I.A joined Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and T.I. on stage for a performance of Swagga Like Us to an audience of screaming fans.

The biggest haul of the night went to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss who scooped all five awards they were nominated for.

The event marked both the first trip to the awards and first performance for Plant, who said: "I’m looking forward to being in Los Angeles, but musically — and spiritually — I expect we’ll be somewhere halfway between the Mississippi Delta and the Clinch Mountains."

The evening’s entertainment continued as Taylor Swift joined Miley Cyrus for a take on Swift’s Fifteen.  The Jonas Brothers played Burnin’ Up and later teamed with Stevie Wonder on hit Superstition.

Plant and Krauss performed with a band including Raising Sand producer T Bone Burnett.

Sugarland won Best Country Song and Best Country Performance by a duo or group with vocals for Stay, later collaborating on a performance of Chasing Pavements.