Bruno Mars owned the Grammys with his R&B-inspired album 害羞草研究所�24K Magic,害羞草研究所� winning all six awards he was nominated for at a show where hip-hop was expected to have a historical night.

Jay-Z, the leading nominee with eight, walked away empty handed Sunday 害羞草研究所� a year after his wife lost album of the year to Adele, causing fans and peers to criticize the Recording Academy for not properly rewarding Beyonce害羞草研究所檚 bold 害羞草研究所淟emonade害羞草研究所� project.

And though Kendrick Lamar won five awards, he lost in the top categories, marking another year where rappers were restricted to wins in the rap categories, instead of earning coveted prizes like album of the year.

Mars picked up album of the year for 害羞草研究所�24K Magic,害羞草研究所� record of the year for the title track, and song of the year 害羞草研究所� shared with seven co-writers 害羞草研究所� for the No. 1 hit, 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 What I Like.害羞草研究所�

Jay-Z and Lamar could have become the first rapper to win song or record of the year, and the third rap-based act to win album of the year.

But Mars害羞草研究所� win still marked some growth for the Academy: His is one of the few R&B albums to win the top prize. He dedicated his win to songwriters who have made history in R&B music, including Babyface, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Lamar害羞草研究所檚 wins at Madison Square Garden in New York City included best rap album, best rap song, best rap performance, best rap/sung performance and best music video. He has a career total of 12 Grammys.

Lamar also won with his performance: He kicked off the Grammys with a powerful and poignant performance featuring video screens displaying a waving American flag behind him, as background dancers dressed as army soldiers marched and moved behind him. At one point, Lamar害羞草研究所檚 background dancers, dressed in red, were shot down as he rapped lyrics, later coming back to life as fire burst to end the six-minute performance.

But the night害羞草研究所檚 top performer was Kesha, who was passionate and striking onstage with the help of powerful women behind her, including the Resistance Revival Chorus, Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels, Andra Day and Bebe Rexha. Dressed in white, they won over the audience while singing Kesha害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淧raying害羞草研究所� and hugged at the song害羞草研究所檚 end as some audience members cried, including Hailee Steinfeld.

Kesha , who earned her first pair of Grammy nominations this year, has been in a legal war with former producer and mentor Dr. Luke. Janelle Monae introduced the performance with strong words.

害羞草研究所淲e come in peace but we mean business. To those who would dare try to silence us, we offer two words: Time害羞草研究所檚 Up,害羞草研究所� Monae said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not just going on in Hollywood. It害羞草研究所檚 not just going on in Washington. It害羞草研究所檚 here in our industry, too.害羞草研究所�

Before the performance, Maren Morris, Eric Church and Brothers Osborne performed an emotional rendition of Eric Clapton害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淭ears In Heaven害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� written after his son died 害羞草研究所� in honour of the 58 people who died at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas last year. The names of victims were displayed behind them as they performed.

The performances were two of the show害羞草研究所檚 serious moments. Dozens of artists and music industry players also sported white roses in support of the Time害羞草研究所檚 Up and #MeToo movements against sexual abuse and harassment.

害羞草研究所淏lack is beautiful, hate is ugly,害羞草研究所� rapper Logic said onstage after performing the suicide prevention anthem 害羞草研究所�1-800-273-8255.害羞草研究所� The performance, with best new artist winner Alessia Cara and Khalid, included a group of suicide attempt and loss survivors selected by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Sting害羞草研究所檚 performance was somewhat political as he sang his 1987 song, 害羞草研究所淓nglishman in New York,害羞草研究所� which includes the lyrics, 害羞草研究所淥h, I害羞草研究所檓 an alien, I害羞草研究所檓 a legal alien, I害羞草研究所檓 an Englishman in New York.害羞草研究所�

Chris Stapleton paid tribute to Tom Petty with Emmylou Harris and also won three awards, including best country album, best country song and best country solo performance.

害羞草研究所淲e always try to make great records 害羞草研究所� and I guess this is a testament to that,害羞草研究所� Stapleton said.

Little Big Town, who beautifully sang their Taylor Swift-penned No. 1 hit 害羞草研究所淏etter Man,害羞草研究所� won best country duo/group performance with the song.

Others who shined onstage included Lady Gaga, who won over the audience with a rousing performance of the songs 害羞草研究所淛oanne害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淢illion Reasons害羞草研究所�; Sam Smith gave a powerful performance of the song 害羞草研究所淧ray害羞草研究所�; and Pink was a vocal powerhouse while she sang 害羞草研究所淲ild Hearts Can害羞草研究所檛 Be Broken.害羞草研究所�

During the pre-telecast, The Rolling Stones picked up their third career Grammy 害羞草研究所� for best traditional blues album for 害羞草研究所淏lue & Lonesome害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� while Ed Sheeran won best pop vocal album. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Childish Gambino, who picked up best traditional R&B performance, gave a smooth and sultry performance of 害羞草研究所淭errified害羞草研究所� in all-white featuring screeching high notes. Gambino was joined by young singer-actor, JD McCrary, who matched his vocals and sings on the original track.

The show, hosted by James Corden, also featured some comedy. Hillary Clinton , John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, and DJ Khaled won over the audience in a skit when reading lines from Michael Wolff害羞草研究所檚 book, 害羞草研究所淔ire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.害羞草研究所� Corden said the book could compete for the best spoken world album Grammy next year.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 the one,害羞草研究所� Corden said in the video after Clinton, a 1997 spoken word Grammy winner, spoke. It earned a rousing applause from the crowd.

Dave Chappelle, who was part of Lamar害羞草研究所檚 opening performance, won best comedy album during the televised show.

害羞草研究所淚 am honoured to win an award, finally, and I wanted to thank everyone at Netflix, at 害羞草研究所楽aturday Night Live,害羞草研究所� at 害羞草研究所楾he Chappelle Show,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said.

Puppies were passed to the losers of best comedy album, including Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman and Jim Gaffigan.

Posthumous Grammys were awarded to actress Carrie Fisher, singer Leonard Cohen and engineer Tom Coyne, who worked on Mars害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所�24K Magic害羞草研究所� album.

Double winners included Jason Isbell, Justin Hurwitz and CeCe Winans.

Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .