Herbie Hancock's Best Album of the Year Grammy win for his latest effort, 'River: The Joni Letters,' was certainly the night's biggest shock and arguably upset, but all the better to bring attention to the inspiration behind the album: Joni Mitchell. "I have a deep respect for Joni and what she stands for," Hancock told Spinner. "I'm hoping people get to see what she's about and what her character is about. She's a person that stands up for what she believes in. That's what I like about her."

Hancock will surely see interest in his muse surge, as the win brings awareness of the folk icon to new generations. But when asked if he felt like an ambassador of Mitchell's music, Hancock was quick to shun the title. "No, I don't feel that way," he said. "That may be a function that is a result of this record [and] I'm hoping that it can be."

Kanye West's 'Stronger' -- a tune synonymous with 2007 -- earned a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance and offered Daft Punk the chance to make their first-ever television appearance, not to mention the first time West performed with the French House icons, during Sunday night's awards ceremony. The performance also revealed some of the mystery of the famous Daft Punk pyramid, with an ariel view into the robots' lair.

Amy Winehouse and Kanye West had their names called the most during the 2008 Grammy Awards, held this year at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Winehouse, won five of the six categories in which she was up for a prize, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The troubled soul singer, conspicuously absent due to visa troubles, nonetheless performed two songs via satellite from London. In the third major category, Album of the Year, in which both Winehouse and West were nominated, music legend Herbie Hancock received the nod, for his 'River: The Joni Letters,' his interpretation of songs by Joni Mitchell.

West, who is coming off the recent death of his mother, was bestowed Best Rap Album for 'Graduation' and Best Rap Song for 'Stronger' among his four wins. Other notable multiple winners include Bruce Springsteen, with three statues for various songs from his 'Magic' album, the White Stripes, who garnered a pair of awards related to 'Icky Thump,' and Grammy favorites the Foo Fighters, who received Best Hard Rock honors for their song 'The Pretender' and Best Rock Album for 'Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace.' Prince picked up the Best Male R&B plaudit for 'Future Baby Mama,' and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss snagged Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for their duet on 'Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On).'

Joni Mitchell, whose friend Herbie Hancock secured his big win with an album of her songs, took home some hardware of her own, getting the nod for Pop Instrumental Performance for 'One Week Last Summer.' Flight of the Conchords, New Zealand's fourth most popular comedy folk duo, have most likely moved up in that ranking thanks to their Best Comedy Album win for 'The Distant Future.' Read the full story here.

Jazz legend Herbie Hancock left folks slack-jawed as he accepted the Grammy award for Album of the Year for his latest effort, 'River: The Joni Letters' -- an honor expected to go to the highly-favored Amy Winehouse, who, up until the announcement, had won 5 of her six nominations. Presented the award by Usher and Quincy Jones, Hancock honored many of his forebears during his acceptance speech, particularly Miles Davis, as well as the inspiration behind the album: Joni Mitchell.

"When I looked at her material, I looked at the full spectrum -- from her earlier work to some of her later stuff," he told Spinner in September. "I didn't want to have it all come from one record. We didn't want to do only the most popular stuff that she did; we wanted to do some of the more obscure things, too. And you just have a nice variety of material to explore on the recording."

Meanwhile, Hancock also upset Kanye West, whose latest, 'The Graduation,' won Best Rap Album earlier in the evening. It was just one of four wins for West, who, despite being nominated for Album of the Year with each successive release, has yet to walk away with night's biggest honor.

Proving they can still rock, legends John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard took the stage at the Grammy Awards for a medley of classic favorites. The 'Cornerstone of Rock' montage was opened by the 62-year-old Fogerty -- his first time ever to perform at the Grammys. The 72-year-old Lewis was next, tickling the ivories on his classic 'Great Balls of Fire.' Then the cameras panned to another piano, where the 75-year-old Little Richard electrified the crowd with 'Good Golly, Miss Molly.' Fogerty's band backed all three players.

During tonight's 2008 Grammy Awards, Amy Winehouse, nominated for six prizes, had her name called five times, most notably winning Record of the Year and Song of the Year for performing and writing the sadly prophetic song 'Rehab.'

For the best record kudos, she defeated Beyonce's 'Irreplaceable,' the Foo Fighters' 'The Pretender,' Rihanna's 'Umbrella' and Justin Timberlake's 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.' A teary Winehouse, upon news of her victory, made certain to thank her "incarcerated" husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, via satellite.

Similarly, denied for best song were the songwriters of Carrie Underwood's 'Before He Cheats,' Plain White T's' 'Hey There Delilah,' Corinne Bailey Rae's 'Like a Star' and Rihanna's 'Umbrella.' Winehouse has also been named Best New Artist, beating out Feist, Ledisi, Paramore and Taylor Swift. The troubled vocalist has also snagged two more awards: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, for 'Rehab,' and Best Pop Vocal Album, for her 'Back in Black' long-player.

Due to a visa request granted too late for her to attend the ceremony live, the currently rehabbing soul singer was unable to pick up her collection of shiny new hardware in person. Even though Winehouse couldn't attend in the flesh, the British soul singer performed her award-winning song via satellite from London along with 'You Know I'm No Good.'

5:51 pm: We officially kick off Grammys 2008 with the red carpet arrivals. And no, we're not referring to Lindsay Lohan.

6:01 pm: Speaking of Lindsay Lohan, Ne-Yo tells E!'s Giuliana Rancic that he's working with the actress on her new album. Make it stop.

6:03 pm: Giuliana is telling us to text the word "carpet" to vote for something or other. Silver platter, Giuliana. Silver platter.

6:08 pm: Who let Celine out? Oh, wait, that's Debbie Matenopoulos, here to provide us all with her fashion expertise. What we've learned: Women, if you want to look hot, starve yourself, master cleanse and don't skimp on the skin. Modesty is overrated and boring.

6:17 pm: The Plain White T's arrive ... with Delilah. Milk it, girl.

Amy Winehouse, who, along with Kanye West, lead the Grammy nominations this year with six, will not be attending the ceremony this Sunday night.

The troubled singer, who's recently simultaneously been seen shooting drugs on video and entering rehab, was denied a U.S. visa for the event. Her publicist issued the following statement today:

"Amy has been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the decision has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery.

Amy has been treated well and fairly by the Embassy staff and thanks everyone for their support in trying to make this happen.

There will of course be other opportunities and she very much looks forward to visiting America in the near future." Bummer.

The celebration of the 50th Grammy Awards kicked off in L.A. last night with the Music Preservation Project, a night dedicated to 'Songs of Change.' And the hour-and-a-half show -- a mix of live performances, video footage and speakers -- did an impressive job encompassing five decades of musical social commentary. Of course it helps when you have the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and John Fogerty.

After Ryan Shaw started the night off with Sam Cooke's 'A Change is Gonna Come,' Lewis was brought out to a standing ovation. He left to another standing o following a raucous 'Great Balls of Fire,' which he said he was doing by request. Meanwhile, Grammy nominee Fogerty -- a voice for social change with Creedence Clearweater Revival and on his own -- delivered a powerful four-song set that started off with a moving acoustic 'Deja Vu All Over Again,' accompained by a poignant video of war footage and the effects on survivors.

Fogerty, who performs on Sunday's show with Lewis and Little Richard, told a story of how his mom used to take him to see the folk singers and meeting Pete Seeger when he was just 12, and the effect that had on him in terms of combining "the beat" with a message. To illustrate, he then ripped through a 'Fortunate Son' that had the crowd in a frenzy.

Fresh off her (slightly disturbing, somewhat promising) resolution to get clean in the new year, Amy Winehouse is facing trouble with the law ... again.

It appears that the embattled singer is wanted for questioning in an alleged evidence-tampering scam associated with husband Blake Fielder-Civil's assault case. After raiding her home in November, officials believe that James King, the victim, was offered bribes to change his story and leave the country.

According to Britain's News of the World, the singer and her equally troubled husband (it's not a contest, kids) have made a suicide pact in the event that they are handed long jail sentences. "She's determined they'll end it together," a friend of the Grammy-nominated singer told Britain's News. "She's really terrified this time. She's teetering on the brink."

Winehouse's father, Mitch, agrees that "she's depressed about Blake being in prison." And while he's supportive of her marriage to Blake, he's vehemently against who his daughter's keeping company these days: Fellow troubled talent Pete Doherty. "He's a scumbag," he told Grazia magzazine. "I flipped when I saw him sitting with Amy backstage at her Brixton gig. That night I went crazy. My wife thought I was going to have a heart attack. I was apoplectic."

UPDATE: Amy Winehouse has been arrested. "It was voluntary and pre-arranged," a representative at her publicity agency said. Read the full story here.

It's been a tumultuous ride for this year's top two Grammy nominees. From arrests and tragic deaths to tantrums and bloody brawls, Amy Winehouse and Kanye West both had their fair share of ups and downs. However, on December 6, the distressed soul singer and grieving producer-rapper received news of their combined 14 award nominations, and -- for a minute -- all of their troubles seemed to be a thing of the past. Take a look back through the two superstars' epic year, leading up to their pinnacle Grammy moment.

Amy Winehouse, who was recently nominated for an impressive six Grammy Awards, is looking to make some positive changes next year. "Amy has agreed she will sort her life out in the New Year," a friend told The Sun. "She wants to give the performance of her life [at the Grammys]."

To ensure that Winehouse sticks with her intention to get clean, her entourage is moving forward with plans to send the beehived, ballet-slippered singer to Israel, where she will undergo intensive rehabilitation for one week. However, that's not before holding one last blowout at her home in London, which friends fear will "probably be a messy affair."

The 24-year-old singer has had a monumentally bad year. From being tossed in jail for drug possession to losing her husband to lockup recently, as well as canceling her tour, she's been caught in a downward spiral that's been captured very publicly by swarming paparazzi. So, yeah, if there's anyone who needs a fresh start, it's her.

Celebrate the singer's New Year's resolution with amazing (and rather lucid) performances of 'Tears Dry on Their Own,' 'Back to Back' and more.

Amy Winehouse Live in Concert

We decided to celebrate the recent Grammy nominations by showcasing three of the lucky noms themselves. First up, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of the Swell Season, who earned two nods for their moving soundtrack performance for the motion picture, 'Once.' Meanwhile, Queens of the Stone Age scored a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, and British soul-singer Amy Winehouse brought home six nominations, including Album of the Year. Congrats, y'all.


Want more 3x3? We've got 69 more performances for you to watch.

The rocking Detroit duo that is the White Stripes, who have been nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album, have hinted that they may have played their last set on their peppermint candy-striped stage.

"If we didn't ever tour again it doesn't matter to me ... I guess it's up to [Meg]," Jack White said in an interview with the L.A. Times. The Stripes were forced to cancel their tour earlier this year due to Meg's "acute anxiety."

Fans, however, can find some solace in the band's upcoming digital EP release on December 18, which includes a collaboration with Beck.

Watch the White Stripes' 'Conquest' Video

Stripes in 12 Best Xmas Songs

By his own admission, Vince Gill is an old hand at the Grammys, with frequent nominations and multiple wins in the country categories. But the singer, who was in L.A. for the nomination announcements, tells Spinner that his Album of the Year for 'These Days' is a novelty.

"Today was uncharted water for me -- in the company of the Foo Fighters, Kanye [West], Amy [Winehouse] and Herbie [Hancock]," he says. "That's a powerful statement to the diversity of music. It's not just five big pop records that are nominated. It really represents a wide range of music."'

While as a musician it's exciting for him to be nominated with the likes of jazz legend Herbie Hancock, the Foos and Kanye West, as the father of five, he gets the most points for being in the same category as Amy Winehouse. "Amy and I did the 'Oprah' show a couple of weeks ago and all the kids wanted to go," he says. "Most of the time they could give a rip about anything we're doing. But I think it'll be a big thrill for them," he says, adding the nomination gives him "street cred."