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."

Related Videos Related Artists

Natasha Bedingfield Carmen Electra Tara Reed Shania Twain

Justin Bieber Surprises Rio Fans With Selena Gomez

On My World Tour stop, teen couple share stage for 'Who Says.'
By Jocelyn Vena


Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber
Photo: Craig Barritt/ Getty Images

Earlier this year, Justin Bieber hopped onstage with Selena Gomez during a stop on her tour, and on Thursday night, she returned the favor. The couple shared the stage as Bieber performed in Rio de Janeiro, his second night in the city on his My World Tour.

As if debuting his Christmas single, "Mistletoe," wasn't enough of a present for his Brazilian fans, they got the chance to see the teen pop couple perform together. Bieber teased the performance in the hours leading up to his big show, tweeting, "Had a lil fun last night in RIO ... show #2 in RIO is 2nite ... got some very special guests with me 2nite. #Mistletoe." He later added, "Hearing @CobraStarship killing it out there ... almost time RIO ... i got a big surprise tonight. #BRAZIL #myworldtour."

Footage from the performance shows Bieber walking offstage as Gomez comes out to sing her song "Who Says." Toward the end of the song, Bieber returned to sing a few lines, and the pair embraced before Gomez exited the stage.

Bieber later tweeted, "RIO!!! CRAZY!! thanks to @selenagomez for helping me do something special for the crowd. a duet never hurt nobody. WHO SAYS."

OK! magazine reports that Tuesday, the pair was spotted touring the city and taking a helicopter ride. On Wednesday night, Gomez was photographed backstage watching her boyfriend perform.

Bieber's next tour stop is Sao Paolo. While rocking South America, Bieber announced he's releasing the official version of his single earlier than originally planned: "Thanks to all the love ITUNES is now releasing #MISTLETOE early ... now coming #OCT17th !!! spread the world ... we r going for our first #1!!" he tweeted.

His November 1 holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, will feature appearances from Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Usher and the Band Perry.

Related Photos Related Artists

Samaire Armstrong Rozonda Thomas Lacey Chabert Taylor Swift

Nicki Minaj Surprises Youtube Sensations Sophia & Rosie on Ellen (Video)

If you missed yesterday?s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show you missed Youtbue ?Super Bass? sensation?s Sophia Grace Brownlee and her cousin Rosie Grace McClelland meeting their idol Nicki Minaj. Never fear though I have video from it below and trust me when I say is must see. Adorable cousins Sophia and Rosie have been making headlines since their rendition of Minaji?s ?Super Bass? hit Youtube. The British girls are not only adorable but they sing the song so well. In fact the duo has become so hot they caught the eye of Ellen DeGeneres who of course booked them on her show to sing. Now being on the hit talk show is pretty awesome in itself but the girls were also surprised by Nicki, who was amazing with the girls. Not only did she rearrange her schedule to be there but she sent the girls on a shopping spree, as well as sang her hit song with them. Seriously I am so not even really a fan of Minaj?s but after seeing her with those two cute little girls yesterday I have mad respect for her. The segment is great as is the original Youtube video of the two [...]

Carla Gugino Dido Zoe Saldana Erica Leerhsen

Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers

'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll


Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News

You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.

In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.

But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.

"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."

Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.

"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.

Related Artists

Gabrielle Union Kelly Hu Rhona Mitra Dita Von Teese

VIDEO: Fantasia Sets The Record Straight Exclusively on ?The Wendy Williams Show?

2004 American Idol winner FANTASIA BARRINO called in EXCLUSIVELY to “THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW” today to set the record straight about her pregnancy, relationship and rumors surrounding her involvement in the legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson biopic. Is the family furious? Are the film investors backing out? Check out the video. “THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW” [...]

Amber Valletta Kate Hudson Shannon Elizabeth Leslie Bibb