Jon Bream: Grammy's most award-worthy moments

Frank Sinatra opened the show, duetting via technology with Alicia Keys. Then came Carrie Underwood doing "Before He Cheats," channeling Nancy Sinatra with her over-the-knee boots and over-the-shoulder blonde bouffant. Strangest of all was will.i.am rapping a bit of Old Blues Eyes' "Strangers in the Night" near the show's end.

When Vince Gill accepted the Grammy from Ringo Starr for best country album ("These Days"), he swooned: "I just got an award from a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?"

Prince fired off the night's other best ad lib after the Sinatra/Keys duet: "Frank Sinatra looked good for 150, didn't he?"

Beyoncé introduced Tina Turner as "the queen." Yo, Be, Aretha Franklin was in the house.

Barack Obama won for best spoken-word recording (for "The Audacity of Hope") over past winners (and ex-presidents) Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Hillary Clinton took this prize in 1996, while Al Franken has two Grammys in this category -- and he's never even won an election.

"I came here when I was 13 as a seat filler," said Amy Winehouse's producer, Mark Ronson. This year he filled a pretty big seat of his own: producer of the year.

"I voted for myself. I have no shame for admitting that," said Carrie Underwood, accepting for female country vocal.

Twin Cities violinist Jessy Greene, who is touring with the Foo Fighters, wasn't visible when the band played with a string section, but she got plenty of face time anyway. She joined the Foos on the podium to accept best rock album and was captured beaming onscreen when album-of-the-year nominees were announced.

"Thank you Grammy voters for finally giving one of these to me," said country star Brad Paisley as he snared his first trophy (for country instrumental).