The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were announced on December 1, 2010 and a total of 108 awards were presented. Most of the awards were presented during the pre-telecast, which took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center next to the Staples Center, where the main telecast took place. The eligibility period was October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.
For the third year, nominations were announced on prime-time television as part of "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live! – Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" a one-hour special broadcast live on CBS from Club Nokia at L.A. Live.
Arcade Fire won Album of the Year for The Suburbs becoming the first indie act to do so, and surprising many viewers and critics. Baba Yetu composed and arranged by Christopher Tin won Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), the first Grammy given to a piece of music written for a video game. Esperanza Spalding was awarded Best New Artist. Lady Antebellum won five awards including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Need You Now". Other multiple winners include: David Frost, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, and Jeff Beck with three awards each. The Black Keys, Eminem, Herbie Hancock, Alicia Keys, The Roots, Usher, Christopher Tin and BeBe Winans won two awards each.
The television broadcast of the 53rd Grammy Awards marked the last awards show for the Grammy's executive producer, John Cossette, before his death on April 26, 2011.
At the request of manager and music impresario, Lisa Roy, the album was compiled and mastered by music producer, Stewart Cararas. All attendees of the 2011 Academy Awards received the CD in their gift bags.
Performers
Pre-telecast ceremony
ChocQuibTown Trombone Shorty Buddy Guy, Cyndi Lauper, Maria Muldaur, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mavis Staples, and Betty Wright Kirk Whalum
Telecast ceremony The following performed: Artist(s)Song(s)Yolanda AdamsChristina AguileraJennifer HudsonMartina McBrideFlorence WelchTribute to Aretha Franklin:"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman""Ain't No Way" (Aguilera)"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (McBride)"Think" (Welch)"Respect" (Hudson)"Spirit in the Dark" (Adams)"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves"Lady Gaga"Born This Way"Miranda Lambert"The House That Built Me"Muse"Uprising"B.o.BBruno MarsJanelle Monáe"Nothin' on You""Grenade""Cold War"Justin Bieber Jaden Smith"Baby""Never Say Never"Usher Justin Bieber"OMG"Mumford & Sons The Avett Brothers Bob Dylan"The Cave""Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise""Maggie's Farm"Lady Antebellum"If You Don't Know Me By Now""American Honey""Need You Now"Cee-Lo GreenGwyneth PaltrowHenson Company Puppets"Forget You"Katy Perry"Not Like the Movies""Teenage Dream"Norah JonesJohn MayerKeith UrbanTribute to Dolly Parton"Jolene"Eminem Adam LevineRihannaSkylar GreyDr. Dre"Love the Way You Lie (Part II)""I Need a Doctor"Mick Jagger Raphael SaadiqTribute to Solomon Burke"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"Barbra Streisand"Evergreen"RihannaDrake "What's My Name?"Arcade Fire "Month of May""Ready to Start"
Presenters Pre-telecast ceremony BT Kathy Griffin Wayne Wallace Laurie Anderson Sara Bareilles
Telecast ceremony The following presented:
LL Cool J — presented the Aretha Franklin-tribute Ricky Martin — introduced Lady Gaga Blake Shelton — introduced Miranda Lambert Lenny Kravitz — introduced Muse Ryan Seacrest — introduced Bruno Mars, B.o.B, and Janelle Monáe Dierks Bentley and Zac Brown — presented Best Female Country Vocal Performance Eva Longoria — introduced Justin Bieber, Jaden Smith and Usher Paramore and Pauley Perrette — presented Best Rock Album Selena Gomez and Donnie Wahlberg — presented Best Pop Vocal Album David Letterman — introduced Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons, and The Avett Bros. Clay Matthews and Lea Michele — introduced Lady Antebellum Kings of Leon and Miley Cyrus — presented Best Country Album Jamie Foxx — introduced Cee Lo Green, Gwyneth Paltrow and The Jim Henson Company Puppets Neil Patrick Harris — introduced Katy Perry John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban — presented Song of the Year Seth Rogen — introduced Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Rihanna Jewel and John Legend — presented Best New Artist Matthew Morrison — introduced Recording Academy President Neil Portnow Kris Kristofferson — introduced Barbra Streisand Nicki Minaj and will.i.am — presented Best Rap Album Diddy — introduced Drake and Rihanna Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez — presented Record of the Year Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson — presented Album of the Year Jason Segel — introduced Arcade Fire
Awards General Record of the Year "Need You Now" – Lady Antebellum Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer "Nothin' on You" – B.o.B & Bruno Mars The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine, engineer/mixer "Love the Way You Lie" – Eminem featuring Rihanna Alex da Kid & Makeba Riddick, producers; Alex da Kid, Eminem & Mike Strange, engineers/mixers "F*** You" – Cee-Lo Green The Smeezingtons, producers; Manny Marroquin & Graham Marsh, engineers/mixers "Empire State of Mind" – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys Angela Hunte, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Shux, producers; Ken "Duro" Ifill, Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton & Ann Mincieli, engineers/mixers
Album of the Year The Suburbs – Arcade FireArcade Fire & Markus Dravs, producers; Arcade Fire, Mark Lawson & Craig Silvey, engineers/mixers; Mark Lawson, mastering engineerRecovery – Eminem Kobe, Lil Wayne, Pink & Rihanna, featured artists; Alex da Kid, Victor Alexander, Boi-1da, Nick Brongers, Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee, DJ Khalil, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jason Gilbert, Havoc, Emile Haynie, Jim Jonsin, Just Blaze, Magnedo7, Mr. Porter, Robert Reyes, Makeba Riddick & Script Shepherd, producers; Alex Da Kid, Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee, Kal "Boogie" Dellaportas, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri, Just Blaze, Robert Marks, Alex Merzin, Matthew Samuels, Joe Strange, Mike Strange & Ryan West, engineers/mixers; Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, mastering engineer Need You Now – Lady Antebellum Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer; Andrew Mendelson, mastering engineer The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga Beyoncé, featured artist; Ron Fair, Fernando Garibay, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jerkins, Lady Gaga, RedOne, Teddy Riley & Space Cowboy, producers; Victor Alexander, Eelco Bakker, Christian Delano, Mike Donaldson, Paul Foley, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jenkins, Hisashi Mizoguchi, Robert Orton, Dan Parry, Jack Joseph Puig, RedOne, Teddy Riley, Dave Russel, Johnny Severin, Space Cowboy, Mark Stent, Jonas Wetling & Frank Wolff, engineers/mixers; Gene Grimaldi, mastering engineer Teenage Dream – Katy Perry Snoop Dogg, featured artist; Ammo, Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke, Kuk Harrell, Max Martin, Stargate, C. "Tricky" Stewart, Sandy Vee & Greg Wells, producers; Victor Alexander, Steve Churchyard, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Sam Holland, Jaycen-Joshua, Damien Lewis, Chris O'Ryan, Carlos Oyanedel, Paris, Phil Tan, Brain Thomas, Lewis Tozour, Miles Walker, Emily Wright & Andrew Wuepper, engineers/mixers; Brian Gardner, mastering engineer
Song of the Year"Need You Now"Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)"Beg, Steal or Borrow" Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs) "F*** You" Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green) "The House That Built Me" Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin songwriters (Miranda Lambert) "Love the Way You Lie" Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
Best New ArtistEsperanza SpaldingJustin Bieber Drake Florence & The Machine Mumford & Sons
Pop Best Female Pop Vocal Performance"Bad Romance" – Lady Gaga"King of Anything" – Sara Bareilles "Halo" (Live from I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas) – Beyoncé "Chasing Pirates" – Norah Jones "Teenage Dream" – Katy Perry
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance"Just the Way You Are" – Bruno Mars"Haven't Met You Yet" – Michael Bublé "This Is It" – Michael Jackson "Whataya Want from Me" – Adam Lambert "Half of My Heart" – John Mayer
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal"Hey, Soul Sister" (Live) – Train"Don't Stop Believin'" (Regionals Version) – Glee Cast "Misery" – Maroon 5 "The Only Exception" – Paramore "Babyfather" – Sade
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals"Imagine" – Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono Nº1, Jeff Beck, & Oumou Sangaré"Airplanes, Part II" – B.o.B, Eminem, & Hayley Williams "If It Wasn't for Bad" – Elton John & Leon Russell "Telephone" – Lady Gaga & Beyoncé "California Gurls" – Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg
Best Pop Instrumental Performance"Nessun Dorma" – Jeff Beck"Flow" – Laurie Anderson "No Mystery" – Stanley Clarke "Orchestral Intro" – Gorillaz "Sleepwalk" – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Best Pop Instrumental AlbumTake Your Pick – Larry Carlton & Tak MatsumotoPushing the Envelope – Gerald Albright Heart and Soul – Kenny G Singularity – Robby Krieger Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway – Kirk Whalum
Best Pop Vocal AlbumThe Fame Monster – Lady GagaMy World 2.0 – Justin Bieber I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle Battle Studies – John Mayer Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
Notes
Dance Best Dance Recording"Only Girl (In the World)" – RihannaCrystal Johnson, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm, producers: Stargate, Sandy Vee"Rocket" – Goldfrapp Alison Goldfrapp & Will Gregory, producers; Mark 'Spike' Stent, mixer "In for the Kill" – La Roux Elly Jackson & Ben Langmaid, producers; Serban Ghenea & John Hanes, mixers "Dance in the Dark" – Lady Gaga Fernando Garibay & Lady Gaga, producers; Robert Orton, mixer "Dancing on My Own" – Robyn Patrik Berger & Robyn, producers; Niklas Flyckt, mixer
Best Electronic/Dance AlbumLa Roux – La RouxThese Hopeful Machines – BT Further – The Chemical Brothers Head First – Goldfrapp Black Light – Groove Armada
Traditional pop Best Traditional Pop Vocal AlbumCrazy Love – Michael Bublé The Greatest Love Songs of All Time – Barry Manilow Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville – Johnny Mathis Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V – Rod Stewart Love Is the Answer – Barbra Streisand
Rock Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance"Helter Skelter" – Paul McCartney "Run Back to Your Side" – Eric Clapton "Crossroads" – John Mayer "Silver Rider" – Robert Plant and the Band of Joy "Angry World" – Neil Young
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal"Tighten Up" – The Black Keys "Ready to Start" – Arcade Fire "I Put a Spell on You" – Jeff Beck & Joss Stone "Radioactive" – Kings of Leon "Resistance" – Muse
Best Hard Rock Performance"New Fang" – Them Crooked Vultures "A Looking in View" – Alice in Chains "Let Me Hear You Scream" – Ozzy Osbourne "Black Rain" – Soundgarden "Between the Lines" – Stone Temple Pilots
Best Metal Performance"El Dorado" – Iron Maiden "Let the Guilt Go" – Korn "In Your Words" – Lamb of God "Sudden Death" – Megadeth "World Painted Blood" – Slayer
Best Rock Instrumental Performance"Hammerhead" – Jeff Beck "Black Mud" – The Black Keys "Do the Murray" – Los Lobos "Kundalini Bonfire" – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds "The Deathless Horsie" – Dweezil Zappa
Best Rock Song"Angry World"Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young) "Little Lion Man" Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons) "Radioactive" Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings of Leon) "Resistance" Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse) "Tighten Up" Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)