Our Favorite Grammy Moments

Did you catch the Grammys last night? Don't worry if you didn't, because we kept our eyes glued to the set from the moment the first celeb set foot on the red carpet to the final good night from John Legend. Here's a rundown of our favorite moments, and an explanation of who that mysterious tot was with Rihanna and Jay-Z:

1. Taylor Swift wins 4 Grammys

Despite a shaky vocal performance with musical icon Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift went on to rack up 4 awards - including Best Album of the Year. At 20, she is the youngest person to ever win this award, which she usurped last night from Alanis Morisette. Morisette won the award at 21 for "Jagged Little Pill," which Beyonce paid homage to last night in her fierce Grammy performance that included part of Morisette's "You Oughta Know." How meta of them all!

Swift's acceptance speech reflected the gracious winner we have all come to know and love this award season: "When we're 80 years old and we're telling the same stories over and over to our grandkids and they're so annoyed with us, this is the story we're going to be telling over and over again...Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

2. Jay-Z and Rihanna: BYOToddler

Wondering who that adorable kid Hova and Rihanna brought up to accept their award for "Best Rap Collaboration" was? He's Beyonce's nephew - her sister Solange's, who is also a singer, son - David Julez Smith. Even though he was looking "super fresh" in his tux and Nike Dunks, according to Jay-Z, Julez didn't have anything to add to their acceptance speech. Solange later tweeted "Julez is going to enjoy seeing that when he's 13!"

3. Kings of Leon win 'Record of the Year'

We told you it was one of the year's best songs, and it looks like we weren't the only ones who thought so. The "Record of the Year" Grammy honors every aspect of that song's production: writing, mixing, and performance. We have to agree that "Use Somebody" did an A+ job on of these elements of composition. And, of course, we have to mention the KoL's alcohol-infused acceptance speech. Lead singer Caleb Followill proudly announced, "I'm not going to lie, we're all a little drunk. But we're happy drunks." How very rock 'n roll of them.

4. Lady Gaga and Elton John in The Fame Factory

Bringing together two of the best pianists and best-costumed performers of all time equaled one of the best opening numbers we've seen in years at the Grammys. Gaga belted out some of her Grammy-winning hits before Elton John joined her, and the duo pounded out "Your Song" in a perfectly harmonious duet (sorry, Swift and Stevie...) on back-to-back pianos.

5. Guest artists add something extra to Zac Brown Band and Jeff Beck

Wondering who pounded the keys with Best New Artist winner Zac Brown Band, or who that was attempting to hoedown moves in a gold Lurex dress as Jeff Beck strummed away? Accompanying the ZBB on the piano was keyboarding legend Leon Russell, who "brought decades of experience and legendary performances to the stage."

Imelda May, an Irish singer, was the gold-clad figure intoning Jeff Beck's tribute to Les Paul. May, who has released two albums, sang "How High the Moon" looking like a cross between Rosie the Riveter and Judy Jetson. She's already a major star in her native Dublin and the U.K.

6. Pink's high-flying aerial performance

Pink, who is normally known for her screaming, angsty rock songs, sang a soulful ballad while performing a death-defying Cirque-du-Soleil-inspired aerial performance. Most blogs are abuzz because she appeared to be naked, but us ice skating fans (and anyone who's seen Britney Spears' "Toxic" video) know she was sporting a flesh-colored bodysuit and some carefully placed rhinestones and ribbons. Now just how she managed to stay in tune and focused during all the rapid twirling and water baths, we sadly cannot confirm. Check out her incredible performance:

7. Green Day premieres American Idiot on Broadway

As Tonic previously reported, Green Day's 2004 concept album "American Idiot' is finally being turned into a Broadway musical. Grammy viewers were given a sneak peek at the show last night when the band and the Broadway cast took to the stage for a rousing rendition of the band's song "21 Guns."

8. Beyonce thanks her husband

The first couple of music - that's Beyonce and Jay-Z to those of you who haven't been formally introduced - rarely acknowledge each other at awards show, never walk a red carpet together (the de facto sign of "we are a couple" in show biz today), and are fiercely private about their relationship. That's why it was extremely touching and sweet when Beyonce, who won six Grammys last night, thanked her husband during one of her acceptance speeches. It was especially uncharacteristic on the heels of her performance, which included two songs with a more feminist slant: "If I Were a Boy" and Alanis Morisette's "You Oughta Know."

What were your favorite (and least favorite) Grammy moments?

Photos: Taylor Swift image courtesy of minds-eye via Wikimedia Commons, Kings of Leon image courtesy of Alterna 2 via Wikimedia Commons