The show had the definitive feel of something special. It began with a stirring resurrection of "Roxanne" by the reunited Police, then moved on to feature contrasting performances by the gorgeous R&B star Beyonce and the ladies of Country Western, the Bush-bashing Dixie Chicks. Later there was even a soulful Lionel Ritchie delivering one of his scintillating love songs, "Hello."

And throughout it all, there was the hardware distribution.

Stating that she had grown as an artist and a person, Mary J. Blige took home three honors including the Rhythm and Blues Album of the year for "The Breakthrough." Another of the comeback artists, Blige also won for best R&B song for "Be Without You." She had received the most nominations with eight.

The rambunctious and veteran Red Hot Chili Peppers nabbed four Grammys including one for best rock performance by a duo or group for "Dani California."

But the night belonged to the Texas trio known as the Dixie Chicks. Winning all five of their nominations, they won record and song of the year for "Not Ready to Make Nice." It represented an amazing comeback for the group that had been boycotted for criticizing President Bush in the early days of the Iraq War.

Stevie Wonder, once known as Little Stevie, dedicated his win for best pop collaboration to his late mother. He and Bennett won for their rendition of Wonder's classic "For Once In My Life," a song Wonder did when he was just seventeen.

Newcomer Gnarls Barkley took home two awards, one for alternative music album, a second for his song "Crazy." Carrie Underwood, another of American Idol fame, won best female country vocal performance for her hit "Jesus Take the Wheel."