More Music, Fewer Speeches

ET's Bob Goen On The Grammys

(CBS)  Sunday night's show, the 45th annual Grammy awards, was three and a half hours long, but fewer than a dozen statuettes were given away in that time. That's because this year, the show was dominated by performances.

The remaining Grammys were awarded offscreen and announced at intervals.

“Grammy night is all about the music, and this year there were, count them, a whopping 18 performances,” says Avril Lavigne.

From the classic “Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel, the sound moved to the Dixie Chicks' country music and on to Eminem's rap. But when the metal was handed out, the night belonged to Norah Jones.

In all, the newcomer walked away with five Grammys, including Best New Artist, and Song of the Year: “Don't Know Why.” Her music won a total of eight awards.

After the show, Bob Goen of "Entertainment Tonight" caught up with Jones backstage.

What was it like up on stage as the trophies started to accumulate and she felt the love back from the crowd?

“I felt like an idiot,” she said.

Why?

“Maybe not everybody feels this way but when there's just so many amazing people in one room and I have to get up I feel unworthy, but it was amazing,” she explained.

Other rookies made a splash as well. John Mayer received Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

And Ashanti won best Contemporary R&B album. But it wasn't only about the new kids. Old-time rocker Bruce Springsteen took home three Grammys: Rock Album, Rock Song, and Male Rock Vocal Performance for his song “The Rising.” And, he's got himself a fan in Sheryl Crow.

“I love the boss!!!” she said.

The Dixie Chicks also have to make more room in the trophy case, the trio took home a trio including Best Country Album.

And then there were the tributes, ‘NSYNC performed a medley of Bee Gees hits.

And Barry and Robin Gibb remembered their brother Maurice who died last month.

“I think this is harder than Robin and I ever imagined it could be,” Barry Gibb said.

And there was the tribute to the Clash, as Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl of the Food Fighters, and Steven Van Zandt rocked the house.

What makes the night even more incredible for Norah Jones is, aside from the five Grammys she won, people associated with her album picked up another three trophies, making a total of eight. Other multiple winners on the night, Eminem, India.Arie, Nelly, and B.B. King.

There had been concern that last night's Grammy Awards would become a forum for anti-war sentiments - but most of the messages were subtle.

The words "NO WAR" were written in silver letters on Sheryl Crow's guitar strap as she played - but her hair usually covered up most of the word "NO."

Bonnie Raitt said, "Let's build some peace" before handing out an award.

No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani wore a halter top with the word "love" - along with combat fatigue hot pants.

Before giving out an award, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst said "this war should go away as soon as possible."

The top Grammy winner, Norah Jones, made a passing political reference, saying, "At a time in the world that's really weird, I feel really blessed."