1 / 23

The Year We Bid Farewell to Nippy - On the week leading up to the 2012 Grammy telecast, the world tragically lost legendary music artist Whitney Houston. On short notice, the Grammy Awards show producers were left with little time to put together an appropriate tribute to the late singer. They pulled it off quite elegantly with a tribute worthy of the singer's incredible talent. While this was also the year Adele swept the awards with her record-breaking album 21, it was still the year we lost another one of the greats. – Jon Reyes & BET Staff  (Photo: John Shearer/WireImage)

2 / 23

Jennifer Hudson - With the untimely death of one of her musical idols still fresh in her mind, Jennifer Hudson went out and thrilled the crowd at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. Much like she did at the 2010 BET Honors, Jennifer Hudson delivered a hair-raising rendition of  “I’ll Always Love You” for the late, great Whitney Houston.  (Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage)

3 / 23

Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt - Two of today’s singing stars, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt came together to perform a moving tribute to late soul music icon Etta James. The duo performed the James classic “Sunday Kind of Love.” (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

4 / 23

Adele - British chanteuse Adele accepts the Best Pop Solo performance award for her international power ballad “Someone Like You.” (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

5 / 23

Chris Brown - After a three-year hiatus, Chris Brown returned to the Grammy Awards stage in soaring fashion. Brown's high-flying performance was a highlight of the night. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

6 / 23

Le’Andria Johnson - Season 3 winner of BET’s Sunday Best, Le’Andria Johnson took home the Grammy for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian.  (Photo: BET/Suzi Altman)

7 / 23

The Throne - Though they weren’t there to accept the award, The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West) took home the Best Rap Performance Grammy for their ubiquitous hit “Otis.”(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

8 / 23

Rihanna and Coldplay - International worlds collided as raunchy pop star Rihanna joined British rock band Coldplay for a thrilling genre-bending performance.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

9 / 23

Kanye West - The Grammy Award for Best Rap Song went to Kanye West for his flashy hit “All of the Lights.” Of course, Mr. West was not in the building.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup

10 / 23

Kanye West and Rihanna - Rihanna may have fell short in her quest to win Album of the Year Grammy, but she did take home the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration honors for her contributions to Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.”(Photo: Courtesy Def Jam Records)

11 / 23

Kanye West - It wasn’t nominated for Album of the Year, but Kanye West’s critically acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. It was one of the four Grammys West won for the night.   (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

12 / 23

Stevie Wonder - 2012 BET Honors honoree Stevie Wonder paid his respects to the late Whitney Houston before introducing a performance by his friend and one-time collaborator Paul McCartney.   (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

13 / 23

Common and Taraji P. Henson - Rapper Common and actress Taraji P. Henson paid respect to Gil Scott-Heron before presenting the Grammy for Best R&B Album.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

14 / 23

Chris Brown - Chris Brown’s Grammy return was topped off with a big win as his platinum-selling LP F.A.M.E. won Best R&B Album. A humbled Brown could barely find the words to express his gratitude. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup

15 / 23

Adele - Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” won  Song of the Year honors.   (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

16 / 23

Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, David Guetta - R&B, rap and dance all came together as Chris Brown and Lil Wayne rocked out with international hit-maker David Guetta.(Photos: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

17 / 23

Nicki Minaj - Nicki Minaj brought the heavens and hells together for a controversial Lady Gaga-like performance at the Grammys. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

18 / 23

Adele - Singer Adele accepts the award for Song of the Year onstage at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on February 12, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

19 / 23

Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona - Though they didn’t receive any airtime, Cee Lo and Melanie Fiona snagged two awards, Best Traditional R&B performance and Best R&B Song for Green’s “Fool For You.”(Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

20 / 23

Kirk Franklin - Kirk Franklin was two-time winner last night winning the Grammy for Best Gospel Album, Hello Fear, and Best Gospel Song, "Hello Fear."(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

21 / 23

Drake - Though he came up short on winning a Grammy, Drake was their to lend his support to Young Money label mate Nicki Minaj. Drizzy introduced Nicki's off the wall performance. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

22 / 23

Adele - The night belonged to Adele as she hit the stage again to collect hardware for Record of the Year. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

23 / 23

Adele - On a night the Grammy paid homage to one of the greatest singing talents of all time, Whitney Houston, it was only fitting that one of the new generation’s greatest voices, Adele, took home top honors by winning Album of the Year. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)