The 51st annual Grammy Awards took place on February 8, 2009, broadcast in a live telecast.  See the winners, photos, and video of performances here.

Jennifer Hudson received a Grammy for Best R&B album for her self-titled debut album.  Presenting the award was pop legend Whitney Houston, who is making quite a comeback. (See: Whitney Houston Clive Davis Grammy Performance Video, Photos ) 

In her emotional acceptance speech, Jennifer Hudson thanked her family in heaven among others.   Later she delivered a stirring performance of “You Pulled Me Through,” a ballad from her Grammy winning album.

Nominated for eight awards, Lil Wayne took home four including Best Rap Album Tha Carter III” and two for tracks on which he was the main performer: best solo rap performance (for “A Milli”) and best rap song (for “Lollipop”) and also won for best rap performance by a duo or group, for “Swagga Like Us.”  Taking home Album of the Year were Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for Raising Sand; the pair won a total of five Grammys.  Coldplay took home Best Rock Album of the Year for Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and other awards; for “Viva la Vida” song of the year and best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Legendary soul group The Four Tops received the lifetime achievement Grammy with the sole surviving member of the group, Duke Fakir, accepting the award and participating in a performance of a medley of the group’s greatest hits with Smokey Robinson, Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo.

For a complete list of winners, recap and live blogging….

• Right Celebrity: 2009 Grammy Awards Winners

For video of the Grammy Performances….

• Mr World Premiere: 2009 Grammy Awards Live Performances

(Performers included Kanye West, Estelle, Coldplay, U2, T.I., Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, M.I.A., Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and others.)

For complete red carpet coverage…photos of Grammy Arrivals, Performances, Backstage and Press Room.

• Concrete Loop: 51st Annual Grammy Awards
• LA Times: Red Carpet Rewind: Grammy Awards 2009
• Pop Sugar: Grammy Awards Red Carpet Roundup
• Red Carpet Fashion Awards: 2009 Grammy Awards Best Dressed

Other news: Blink 182 back together — Travis Barker, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge — appeared together and announced onstage that they are reuniting. Chris Brown arrested for alleged domestic violence incident involving Rihanna which resulted in both singers canceling their scheduled Grammy Awards performances. UPDATE: Here is more news on the Chris Brown and Rihanna story, debunking various Internet rumors.

Video of Jennifer Hudson “You Pulled Me Through,” The Four Tops Medley and “Swagga Like Us are below. More Grammy Awards pictures below.

Duke Fakir, Smokey Robinson, Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx, tribute to The Four Tops

M.I.A,T.I.,Jay-Z, Lil Wayne,& Kanye West – Swagga Like Us

Via That Grape Juice

Justin Timberlake, Al Green

Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., Kanye West, M.I.A., Lil Wayne perform Swagga Like Us

Kanye West and Estelle

Coldplay

2009 Grammy Awards Winners: Grammy Performances Video, Photos pictures pics