(Adds details on winners, performers throughout)
By Piya Sinha-Roy and Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Rapper Kendrick Lamar led
the Grammy winners on Monday with five wins but was shut out of
the night's top categories as Taylor Swift nabbed album of the
year in an upset victory.
Compton, California rapper Lamar went into the awards with
11 nominations, and had looked on course to take album of the
year for his critically-acclaimed "To Pimp A Butterfly," but it
was country-turned-pop artist Swift who won with "1989", the
best-selling album of 2014.
Swift, 26, made history as the first woman to win album of
the year twice after also taking the Grammy in 2009 for
"Fearless," and delivered a feisty acceptance speech on female
empowerment.
"To all the woman out there ... there will be people who try
to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments
or your fame," the singer said on stage, adding "don't let
people sidetrack you."
The speech appeared to be a swipe at Kanye West who last
week released a song called "Famous" in which he claimed that he
made Swift famous after the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards incident
in which West hijacked Swift's win live on stage.
R&B singer Bruno Mars and producer Mark Ronson won record of
the year for their upbeat track "Uptown Funk!"
"We wouldn't be up here if it wasn't for the people dancing
to this song," Mars said.
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran won his first Grammys,
including song of the year for "Thinking Out Loud", receiving a
big hug from Swift as he went up on stage.
Pop star Meghan Trainor, who broke out last year with her
body-confident hit "All About That Bass," was named Best New
Artist, tearfully thanking music executive L.A. Reid "for
looking at me as an artist instead of just a song-writer."
SPOTLIGHT ON COMPTON
Hip-hop took center stage as Lamar won best rap album and
delivered the night's most socially charged performance.
The rapper wore chains and a prison uniform to perform "The
Blacker The Berry," a powerful commentary on racial issues
facing America's black youth. He then broke free and rapped his
anthemic track "Alright" surrounded by African tribal dancers.
Other winners included blues-rock group Alabama Shakes, who
took home three wins including best rock performance for "Don't
Wanna Fight," and Broadway musical "Hamilton" won best musical
theater album.
Canadian crooner The Weeknd won two Grammys out of his seven
nominations, including urban contemporary album for "Beauty
Behind the Madness," while Chris Stapleton also scored two
awards, including best country album for "Traveller."
Canadian pop star Justin Bieber won his first-ever Grammy in
the best dance recording category for "Where Are U Now," which
he later performed.
While most performers on the night offered pared-down
renditions of their hits, Lady Gaga gave a colorful tribute to
late British singer David Bowie, singing a medley of his hits
while dressed as the androgynous 'starman.'
Offstage, Rihanna made news by canceling her scheduled
performance at the last minute due to illness. by Jill Serjeant and Bill Rigby)