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Whether it was the understated smoulder of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss or the chance of the whole show falling apart due to off-stage problems, the Grammy Awards found new life in last night's better-than-usual broadcast.

From a rousing performance by Radiohead to a very pregnant M.I.A. risking going into labour as she bounced around on stage with a cohort of fellow rappers, the Grammys leapt in quality yesterday. Even the less successful moments, such as Jay-Z rapping over the piano playing of Coldplay's Chris Martin, held some artistic daring.

Heightening the preshow intrigue were reports that the R&B singer Chris Brown was being questioned and held on $50,000 (U.S.) bail by Los Angeles police for allegedly assaulting a woman, while girlfriend and singing star Rihanna also backed out of the show at the last minute.

But the evening was quickly put right by Al Green, brought on as a replacement, and by Jennifer Hudson holding back tears when she won best R&B album, marking her continued comeback after the murder last year of her mother and other family members. Then again, who dressed multiple-Grammy winners Coldplay in those down-market Sgt. Pepper outfits, which the British band felt the need to apologize for while accepting best song of the year for Viva La Vida?

In the end, Mr. Plant and Ms. Krauss quietly stole the evening, topping the list with five Grammys, including album of the year for Raising Sand and for the song Please Read The Letter. "In the old days, we would have called this selling out," Mr. Plant said at night's end. "But I think it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

The adulation for their duet album, reminiscent of Loretta Lynn's brilliant pairing with the White Stripes' Jack White back in 2004, gave official Grammy approval to the idea that long-established acts should keep taking risks. Rapper Lil Wayne came in second last night with four wins, while Coldplay was third with three trophies. As the long road of hardships continues to hurt the record business - that old refrain of file-sharing and low record sales - the Grammys somehow seemed more relevant. Sure, there was the mendacity of a few over-blown, under-talented performances. (Kid Rock and Katy Perry, take your bow.)

But even this year's nominee list helped spark the broadcast, chiefly M.I.A.'s song of underaged hustling in the developing world, Paper Planes, up for record of the year.

Rufus Wainwright lost out in best traditional pop vocal album, despite daringly recreating Judy Garland's late-career highlight 1961 Carnegie Hall concert in his own live disc Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall.

Neil Young and Rush also both continued their career-long Grammy dry spells. Young was nudged out for best solo rock vocal performance with the song No Hidden Path from his album Chrome Dreams II, losing to John Mayer's Gravity, while Rush lost in best rock instrumental performance.

Among other Canadian nominees, Niagara Falls-raised DJ Joel Zimmerman, aka Deadmau5, had to suffice with just a nomination for best remixed non-classical recording, but no award. Alberta's Northern Cree lost out in the best Native American album category, as did Ontario's Walter Ostanek & His Band for best polka album, although both are perennial Grammy favourites and are all but guaranteed future nominations in years to come.

*****

The winners

Album of the Year:

Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Record of the Year:

Please Read The Letter, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; track from Raising Sand (Rounder)

New Artist:

Adele

Rock Album:

Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay (Capitol Records)

Pop Collaboration With Vocals:

Rich Woman, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from Raising Sand (Rounder)

Song of the Year:

Viva La Vida, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay), track from Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (Capitol Records; Publishers: Universal Music-MGB Songs)

Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:

Stay, Sugarland, track from Enjoy the Ride (Mercury Records)

R&B Album:

Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson (Arista Records)

Female Pop Vocal Performance:

Chasing Pavements, Adele, track from 19 (Columbia/XL)

Pop Vocal Album:

Rockferry, Duffy (Mercury)

Alternative Music Album:

In Rainbows, Radiohead (TBD Records)

Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals:

Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon (RCA Records)

Rap Solo Performance:

A Milli, Lil Wayne, track from Tha Carter III (Cash Money/Universal Motown)