Everybody loves Ray

At last night's Grammy Awards, the late Ray Charles was the king, Loretta Lynn the queen, Kanye West the prince, U2 the court, and Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Green Day, and Usher were all lords and ladies of their domains.

There were no sweeps this time. But there were surprises, such as Usher not winning as many awards as expected, Prince winning more than anticipated, Green Day getting some long-awaited rock satisfaction, and Lynn winning her first Grammy in 33 years.

Not quite surprising were wins by Keys, Mayer, and Norah Jones, who all continued their Grammy-darling status. Keys took four awards, Jones three, and Mayer two.

Still, Charles was the big winner. The late singer, who was clearly the sentimental favorite, figured in eight Grammys for his posthumous ''Genius Loves Company" album, a disc of duets with Jones, Elton John, Van Morrison, Natalie Cole, and others. It won the ultimate prize -- album of the year.

One duet from the album -- ''Here We Go Again" with Jones -- won record of the year. Jones fought back tears as she accepted the award last night in Los Angeles. ''How many millions of people has [Ray Charles] made smile through the years?" she asked.

The emotional highlight of the night, though, apart from an all-star tribute performance to honor victims of the tsunami, was hip-hop star West's speech after winning best rap album for ''The College Dropout." Not only did he thank God, but he thanked the car accident that helped him shape some of tracks on the disc. He had fallen asleep at the wheel of his car after leaving the studio three years ago.

''Nothing in life is promised ... you have to appreciate every moment," said West. Then, just as suddenly, he went from spiritual disciple to party animal: ''I plan to celebrate and scream and pop champagne ... because I'm at the Grammys, baby!"

U2 won three Grammys for their song ''Vertigo." Singer Bono graciously praised other rock acts such as Green Day, the Killers, and Franz Ferdinand, before adding, ''I think these are the best Grammys we've ever seen."

Yet these Grammys seemed more and more like a variety show with just a few awards woven in between.

However, it was hard not to get misty when country legend Lynn received the trophy for best country album (for ''Van Lear Rose"). The aging Lynn pushed coproducer Jack White of the White Stripes out front to say a few words. Lynn also won a Grammy for ''Portland Oregon" (a track from the album), which took best country collaboration with vocals.

The best new artist was a surprise. The award went to Maroon 5, a pop group that has been around for a few years. But that didn't seem to deter Grammy voters, who chose to neglect perhaps more worthy nominees West, Los Lonely Boys, and Joss Stone.

Green Day's ''American Idiot," a probing analysis of what the band termed America's ''redneck agenda," won best rock album. ''Rock 'n' roll can be dangerous and fun at the same time," Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong said.

The biggest surprise was Latin-rockers Los Lonely Boys winning for best pop duo or group with vocals for ''Heaven." They beat out such commercial giants as Evanescence, Maroon 5, and No Doubt.

Another shocker was Prince winning best male R&B performance for ''Call My Name." It topped Usher's ''Burn," a huge favorite in that category.

As for the pre-telecast awards -- where 90 percent of the Grammys were handed out -- Usher's ''Confessions," last year's top-selling CD, won for best contemporary R&B album. A surprise wrinkle was that Usher and Keys shared a Grammy for their No. 1 hit, ''My Boo," which won best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Keys, who earned five awards three years ago, added to her tally yesterday with best R&B album and best R&B song for ''You Don't Know My Name." She shared it with cowriter West.

Grammy voters showed a distinctly liberal bent by going for the Dixie Chicks and Steve Earle -- two outspoken critics of the Bush administration in recent years. The Chicks' ''Top of the World" took home an award for best country performance by a duo or group with vocals, while Earle's ''Start a Revolution ... Now" won for contemporary folk album.

Two first-time winners were Britney Spears and Rod Stewart. Spears lost in her previous six nominations but finally scored in the dance recording category with her hit ''Toxic." Stewart, who never won for his rock 'n' roll output, walked off with best traditional pop album for his latest disc of standards, ''Stardust ... The Great American Songbook Vol. III."

Other first-time winners were Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, whose ''Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" won best rock instrumental (from his long-awaited album, ''Smile"); and newcomers Velvet Revolver (composed of past members of Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots) for best hard rock performance for the track ''Slither."

The New York Philharmonic won three classical awards for its live recording of John Adams's tribute to the dead and missing in the 9/11 terrorist attack. And the Boston Symphony Orchestra was honored for its work on Andre Previn's Violin Concerto ''Anne-Sophie," featuring his wife, Anne-Sophie Mutter, who won best instrumental soloist performance with orchestra.

Last but not least, former president Bill Clinton won his second Grammy for best spoken word album, this time for his memoir, ''My Life."