Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff


Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.

You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.

Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.

And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.

And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.

To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.

"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."

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Justin Bieber Accuser Will Submit Baby For DNA Test

Mariah Yeater's lawyer in paternity case says that while lawsuit has been dropped, negotiations for settlement are ongoing.
By John Mitchell


Justin Bieber
Photo: WireImage

Justin Bieber reportedly took a DNA test Friday in response to the paternity case brought against him by Mariah Yeater, a 20-year-old California woman alleging the singer fathered her 4-month-old son, and now Yeater's attorney tells TMZ his client will submit her baby for testing.

Late last month, Yeater filed a lawsuit claiming she became pregnant by Bieber during a backstage encounter following his October 25, 2010, concert at the Los Angeles Staples Center. Yeater withdrew her paternity suit a few weeks later and was dropped as a client by her initial legal team in mid-November. She went on to hire new counsel, led by Chicago-based attorney Jeffrey Leving, who told MTV News that while the suit had been dropped, negotiations for a settlement were ongoing.

Bieber's legal team vehemently denies the allegations and has stated from the get-go that it might pursue legal action to protect the pop star from further false claims. "As we've said from the beginning, it's sad that someone would fabricate such a malicious, defamatory and demonstrably false claim," Bieber's spokesman, Matthew Hiltzik, said in a statement. "We'll continue to consider all of our options to protect Justin."

What Are Bieber's Legal Options Now That Yeater Has Dropped Her Suit? After reports surfaced that Bieber took a DNA test in New Jersey, TMZ reported Yeater was deliberately avoiding having her child tested because she knew the results would serve as evidence against her, should Bieber's team file suit for defamation or abuse of the legal process. Her lawyer is now dispelling that notion, telling the gossip site that his client "can't wait" to submit her young son for testing.

Leving, however, claimed he has a problem with the DNA test Bieber reportedly submitted because a member of his team was not present when it was administered. The lawyer said he has been in touch with Bieber's legal counsel, headed by Howard Weitzman, and hopes both teams can reach an agreement on DNA-testing protocol.

Bieber has maintained a positive attitude throughout the ordeal. He has not altered the promotional tour for his holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, including a recent performance at the American Music Awards and on the "Today" show, and told MTV News last week at the Pencils of Promise charity event that he's doing "great."

Earlier that day, he spoke of the paternity case briefly with New York's Z100 radio station, saying, "As far as the whole baby situation, it's unfortunate that it had to happen like that. People make false accusations, but things happen in this industry, and you have to keep your head high and be positive."

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Justin Bieber Brings Christmas Spirit To 2011 AMAs

Pop star croons 'Mistletoe' during light-filled set Sunday.
By James Dinh


Justin Bieber performs at the 2011 American Music Awards
Photo: Getty Images

Holiday cheer filled the 2011 American Music Awards on Sunday night (November 20) when Justin Bieber took to the stage to perform his festive hit "Mistletoe," from his chart-topping Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe.

Presented by friend and collaborator Sean Kingston, the Biebster began the song atop a high platform as smoke spread below his feet. In an all-white ensemble, the singer strolled from each side of the platform, igniting a string of neon lights. As he crooned his way through the Messenger-produced song, Bieber walked onto lower platforms before making his way onto the main stage.

And it wasn't just JB who lit up with arena, but also the audience. Cameras panned to shots of attendees waving glow sticks.

Bieber took to Twitter over the weekend to hype up his AMA performance, writing, "AMA blocking rehearsal. @dankanter is here. sounds like fun." Kanter, his musical director, echoed similar sentiments about the star's set. "AMA rehearsal. JB is killing it! Just wait until you all see him tomorrow night!!!" he tweeted.

JB has many more stuffers left in his stocking, including appearances on NBC's Christmas tree lighting November 30 and TNT's annual "Christmas in Washington" TV special December 11.

What did you think of Bieber's AMA performance? Share your reviews below!

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