Esperanza Spalding wins best new artist Grammy
Mia Phillips
Updated on April 04, 2026
Jazz singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding was the surprise best new artist winner at the Grammys.
Los Angeles - Jazz singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding was the surprise best new artist winner at the Grammys.
Spalding beat out top acts like Justin Bieber and Drake. She only had only one Grammy nomination coming into Sunday's show.
Spalding released her third CD, "Chamber Music Society," last summer. Other nominees in the category were Florence & the Machine and the UK-based bluegrass band Mumford & Sons.
Song of the Year
Lady Antebellum's yearning crossover smash "Need You Now" was crowned song of the year by the Grammys.
The country trio beat out Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie," Cee Lo Green's "(Expletive) You," Ray LaMontagne's "Beg Steal Or Borrow" and the Miranda Lambert-crooned "The House That Built Me" for the honor.
A tearful singer Hillary Scott said: "This past year has completely changed our whole lives and we love you all."
Record of the Year
Lady Antebellum's crossover hit, "Need You Now," didn't make it to No. 1 on the pop charts, but it won the 2011 record of the year Grammy.
"Need You Now" peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart last year. They performed the song last year at the Grammys and again at Sunday's show.
Lady Antebellum so far have won five awards on Sunday; they won one Grammy last year.
In the record of the year category, the country trio beat out No. 1 hits like Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind," Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" and B.o.B's "Nothin' on You," as well as Cee Lo's expletive-laden hit, reworked as "Forget You!"
Album of the Year
Arcade Fire captured the album of the year award at the Grammys for the "The Suburbs," a surprise win that left Eminem shut out in all the top categories.
It was the rockers' only win on the night; they had been nominated for two other awards.
Arcade Fire beat out Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now," Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream," "The Fame Monster" by Lady Gaga and Eminem's "Recovery" - 2010's best selling album.
This is now the third time Eminem has lost the best album trophy. He led all nominees with 10 and won two.
Preshow awards
John Legend and Jay-Z were the early leaders at the Grammys on Sunday - both were awarded three trophies each during the show's pre-telecast ceremony.
Other multiple winners included Lady Gaga, Usher, Lady Antebellum and Jeff Beck, who won two apiece. Lady Gaga was carried down the red carpet in a huge egg.
Eminem was the leading nominee with 10, but his chance of a huge Grammy sweep was diminished as he lost five of the awards in the pre-telecast. He still won one during the pre-telecast ceremony, for best rap solo performance, for "Not Afraid."
