U2 came out the big winners at last night’s Grammy awards winning five trophies total, including album of the year and rock album of the year for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The band also took home song of the year and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own.” Atomic Bomb has been very good to U2, winning the band three Grammys last year for the single “Vertigo.”

Tied for second most wins were John Legend, Kanye West, and Mariah Carey, who each won three awards. John Legend was honored with the occasionally cursed best new artist award as well as best R&B album for Get Lifted and best male R&B vocal performance on “Ordinary People.”

Kanye West was unusually humble after winning only three of the eight awards for which he was nominated. He took home best rap album for Late Registration, best rap song for “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” and best rap solo performance for “Gold Digger.”

Mariah Carey won her first Grammy since walking away with best new artist in 1990. She was honored with the best contemporary R&B album for The Emancipation of Mimi, best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance for “We Belong Together.”

Also of note were the performances of the evening. Madonna (in a sparkly new leotard and the same feathered ‘do as in her “Hung Up” video) opened the show with the Gorillaz and De La Soul. Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, and Christina Aguilera were the songbirds of the evening while Kanye West and Jamie Foxx performed “Gold Digger” and “Touch the Sky,” complete with boy/girl dance teams and competing marching bands. Finally, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Dr. John came together for a tribute to New Orleans while Ciara, Will.I.Am., Adam Levine, and others brought Sly Stone to the stage for the first time in over a decade.http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001994312