Grammy Awards 2013: Mumford & Sons wins album of the year for "Babel"

Singer Adele presents the trophy for best album of the year to Mumford & Sons on stage at the Staples Center during the 55th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2013. / FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 11:40 p.m. ET

Mumford & Sons' "Babel" has won the Grammy Award for album of the year.

"We figured we weren't going to win anything because The Black Keys have been sweeping up all day, and deservedly so," lead singer Marcus Mumford said in his acceptance speech.

It was the foursome's second win on Sunday night. They also won best long form music video.

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys ended up the night's top winner with four trophies, including producer of the year and three rock category victories with bandmate Patrick Carney. But it was hardly a clean sweep as The Recording Academy's thousands of voters spread the love for the year's top singles.

• List of Grammy Awards winners
• Complete Coverage: The 55th annual Grammy Awards
• Complete coverage of the Grammy Awards at CBS.com

Pop-rock trio fun. picked up two major awards, winning song of the year for the anthem "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae, and best new artist in something of an upset over Frank Ocean.

"I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote the chorus to this song," lead singer Nate Ruess, 30, joked. "This is in HD, everyone can see our faces, and we are not very young."

The band also turned in a powerful early performance of "Carry On" early in the show as a downpour on stage began mid-song and guitarist Jack Antonoff got a kiss from girlfriend Lena Dunham of "Girls" fame after winning their first award.

Like Mumford & Sons, Gotye busted up the predictions, taking record of the year for 2012's top-selling single, the haunting "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring Kimbra, and finished with three awards.

Prince, in hood and sunglasses and carrying a sparkly silver cane, presented him with the record of the year trophy and the Australian paid tribute to The Purple One's influence.

"A little bit lost for words, to receive an award from the man standing behind us with the cane," Gotye said. "Many years listening to this man's music growing up and a big reason I was inspired to make music. Thank you."

Jay-Z and Kanye West had three wins -- sharing one award with Ocean -- along with Skrillex, and a slew of nominees had two wins apiece, including former best new artist winner Esperanza Spalding.

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Grammy Awards 2013: Show highlights

Ocean was shut out in the major categories, but took home two trophies, including best urban contemporary album. Only Chris Brown, with whom Ocean scuffled last month, remained seated as the 25-year-old R&B winner walked to the stage during a standing ovation. Ocean beat Brown, who attended with girlfriend Rihanna, in the category.

Ocean won also won best rap/sung collaboration for "No Church in the Wild" with fellow top nominees Jay-Z and West, and The-Dream. The win came after victories for Jay-Z and West for best rap song and best rap performance for "... in Paris," another "Watch the Throne" track. Ocean also performed his song "Forrest Gump," the love song written about a man that first started the buzz that led to his announcement that his first love was a man.

"We Are Young" helped fun. earn a starring role at these Grammys with nominations in all four major categories after the release of their first album, matched only by Christopher Cross in 1981, and six overall.

The Black Keys took best rock performance for "Lonely Boy" during the main telecast and earlier in the day won best rock song for "Lonely Boy" and best rock album for "El Camino." He also got an assist -- but no trophy -- on Dr. John's best blues album "Locked Down," which he produced.

Auerbach took the early lead thanks to a strong run in the pre-telecast awards show. His Black Keys won best rock performance for "Lonely Boy" during the main telecast and earlier in the day won best rock song for "Lonely Boy" and best rock album for "El Camino" with bandmate Patrick Carney, and Auerbach was named producer of the year. He also got an assist -- but no trophy -- on Dr. John's best blues album "Locked Down," which he produced.

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Grammy Awards 2013: Behind the scenes

Other early winners included Rihanna, Beyonce and Taylor Swift, who opened the show as the Mad Hatter. She dressed in white top hat, tails, shorts and tall boots during the surreal version of her hummable hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" that included her pretending to talk to the offending boyfriend on the phone: "I'm busy opening the Grammys and we're never getting back together."

It was the first of a number of blockbuster performances during the live telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, hosted by LL Cool J. Justin Timberlake debuted new tracks "Suit & Tie" with Jay-Z and "Pusher Love" in a performance that was broadcast in retro black and white. Rihanna and the extended Marley family paid tribute to Bob Marley. Sting and Bruno Mars helped each other out on their hits "Locked Out of Heaven" and "Walking on the Moon." Elton John and Ed Sheeran teamed on "The A Team" and Miguel and Wiz Khalifa joined forces teamed up on "Adorn." Alicia Keys played drums during Maroon 5's "Daylight," before Adam Levine's band backed her on "Girl on Fire."

Jack White brought both his male and female bands on stage, tearing through "Love Interruption" and "Freedom at 21" before a standing ovation from the crowd. And Elton John, Mavis Staples, Brown, Mumford & Sons and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes paid tribute to the late Levon Helm with a spirited rendition of "The Weight."

Adele won the first award of the night on the main telecast, taking home best pop solo performance for "Set Fire to the Rain (Live)."

"I just wanted to be part of the night, because I loved it last year, obviously," she said of winning a record-tying six awards in 2012.

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Grammy Awards 2013: Red carpet

Carrie Underwood won best country solo performance for "Blown Away," Zac Brown Band won best country album for "Uncaged" and Kelly Clarkson turned in the night's most exuberant acceptance speech after winning best pop vocal album for "Stronger." After hugging much of the front row and momentarily getting stuck to Miranda Lambert's dress, Clarkson charged the stage with a giant smile.

"Miguel, I don't know who the hell you are, but we need to sing together," she said. "I mean, good God. That was the sexiest dancing I've ever seen."

Skrillex won best dance recording for "Bangarang," featuring Sirah, best dance/electronica album for "Bangarang" and best remixed recording a year after winning those same awards in his first appearance at the Grammys.

Celebrities rolled down the red carpet in the early afternoon under heavy police guard during a continued manhunt for an alleged cop killer. Many stars showed a fair amount of skin despite a warning that stars dress appropriately with butts, breasts and other sensitive areas covered adequately.

Nevertheless, Jennifer Lopez showed up on stage in a dress slit all the way to her hip.

"As you can see, I read the memo," Lopez joked.

[Filmguy870]

..that said, Bruno Mars, Elton John (aging, but proven) Adele (although she did not sing) Prince (ditto)...there were some really talented people on that stage...it's just that they WEREN'T performing!!!! (Except for Bruno and Elton). ...and certainly not "winning."

[Filmguy870]

meh....yawn. Where is this "talent" we keep hearing about???? This seems like a reaction to the overly polished performance concept of earlier generations of musicians. It's almost like anyone with enough nerve can be seen as talented.

[tommyboy194]

music business is pathetic , now a days...nothing unique..terrible, thank goodness for the oldies

[varigdc10]

Most of these so called "stars" look like crap, their clothes are totally ugly, they don't comb their hair, they look like bums that just got up from sleeping on a sidewalk somewhere, why? Is this the "cool" look of today? Very very, very ugly.

[uoughtaknow]

So glad Mumford & Sons are getting the recognition they deserve! They make brilliant music. And their lyrics are crazy good. Not like the meaningless crap we so often hear on the radio. Been following them since they released their first album. Amazing group of guys.

[bigone9]

The show show itself wasn't anything special. Anytime Taylor Swift does the opening the Grammy's you know it's going be a snore fest.

[uoughtaknow]

My sister said tonight at the start of the show "The reason the Grammy people chose Taylor Swift to open up the show was because you can only go uphill from there." Hah.

[bigone9]

"FUN"? Really? I couldn't believe the alternative rock station I listen to started paying FUN's music. NOT good! Sadly, people like them. Also, you can not compare "FUN" the "QUEEN"

[mrnoot10]

Frank Ocean is terrible and it hurts me to say that since I'm a musician and songwriter from New Orleans. He is not a professional caliber performer. The lyrics and the concept of the Forrest Gump song is not relatable to me and many others. I've written better songs in my sleep. He has no place in the music business. His singing was off pitch, most of the song and the whistling was worst. The visual aspect of his performance was not engaging. If "the business" wants a genuine songwriter and performer, I'm available. Wake up music industry, have better standards!

[Ricotita1]

Hey MRNOOT10: do you have a Grammy yet? If not, try American Idol..and maybe you can go somewhere...who knows!!!!

[MusicIsKey]

Watching from Australia and wondering why Janelle Monae didn't get up on stage with Fun. ??? Anyway, on a brighter note - I have to say stuff you haters - you must be deaf! This years Grammy's has been fantastic. There's so much talent out there in the music industry - young and old. The Lumineers, Fun, Mumford and Sons, Bruno Mars, Elton John, etc, etc - all their music and performances were amazing!!!!

[andeemann10]

fun.'s first album was "Aim and Ignite", released in 2009. Do a little research, maybe?