LOS ANGELES - The Dixie Chicks, who were virtually shunned by the country music industry after lead singer Natalie Maines criticized U.S. President George W. Bush, emerged triumphant at Sunday's Grammy Awards, picking up five trophies, including album of the year.
"I'm ready to make nice," said Maines, referring to the group's defiant anthem. "I think people are using their freedom of speech with all of these awards."
Other trophies for the Chicks included record of the year and best country album for their politically tinged Taking the Long Way.
"Well, to quote the great 'Simpsons:' heh-heh!" Maines said to laughter and applause, referring to a snide taunt oft-heard on the animated TV show.
Bandmate Emily Robison thanked the trio's core fans for staying with them through death threats, public CD burnings and a boycott by some country radio stations.
"We wouldn't have done this album without everything we went through so we have no regrets," said Robison.
It was also a big night for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who picked up four Grammys and R&B diva Mary J. Blige, who got three.
Blige, who had a leading eight nominations going into the night, snapped up prizes for best R&B album for The Breakthrough and best R&B vocal performance for the song Be Without You.
The song had earlier won best R&B song and in a pre-televised ceremony.
"The is the first time I've ever been up here to receive anything," an emotional Blige said as she fought back tears in one of the night's first acceptance speeches.
Looking elegant in a champagne-coloured gown with a plunging neckline, the R&B diva acknowledged her troubled past and said she considered the prizes an acknowledgment she had grown as a person as well as an artist.
"For so many years I've been talked about negatively and this time I am being talked about positively by so many people," said Blige, whose past includes well-publicized substance abuse problems.
"I'm going to use this success to build bridges, not to burn."
Awards for the Chili Peppers' included best rock album, best rock song and best rock performance by a duo or group.
The Grammy show kicked off with a blast from the past, with the Police performing their classic hit Roxanne 23 years after they split up.
Sting, sporting black pants and a black vest baring muscular arms, clasped hands with bandmates Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers to take a bow at the end of the song for the cheering crowd at the Staples Center.
The group last played together in 2003 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and are set to go on a comeback tour this year.
Justin Timberlake than offered a nod to music's digital world with a performance that began on piano but ended with him filming himself onstage with a handheld camera. An aspiring unknown singer was to join him for a duet later in the broadcast, selected by Internet and text message voting.
Sampson wins
Before the telecast began, Nova Scotia songwriter Gordie Sampson grabbed Grammy glory, picking up the trophy for best country song for Jesus Take the Wheel.
"Thank you so much,'' Sampson said as he held the shiny gramophone statue while standing onstage with U.S. co-writers Brett James and Hillary Lindsey. "This is quite an honour.''
Sampson had previously found modest success writing album tracks for various artists but Jesus Take the Wheel, sung by American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, was his first massive radio hit, spending six weeks at number one on the U.S. Billboard charts.
Other Canadians, meanwhile, came up empty-handed during the afternoon show.
As he predicted, Vancouver crooner Michael Buble lost out to Tony Bennett, who won the Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album. Sarah McLachlan had also been nominated in that category.
Late last month, Buble said he wasn't going to attend the Grammy ceremony and didn't expect to win, adding "they might as well have already scratched (Bennett's) name'' onto the trophy.
He later changed his mind and said he'd show up, adding the remarks about Bennett were a lame attempt at humour.
Bennett said backstage that he had spent the afternoon hanging out with his young protege, and joked when asked if there were any hard feelings between the pair when the veteran emerged victorious.
"That's up to him, it's not my decision,'' Bennett quipped.
Sultry singer Diana Krall lost out on best jazz vocal album to Nancy Wilson, while Daniel Powter's catchy single Bad Day, a signature song for booted contestants on American Idol, was passed over in the category of best male pop vocal.
Winnipeg's rootsy quintet the Duhks lost out on the trophy for best country duo or group with vocal to comeback country trio the Dixie Chicks, who entered the night with five nominations.
The trio also captured song of the year, beating out Sampson who was also nominated for Jesus Take The Wheel.
Other Canadians who failed to earn trophies were polka king Walter Ostanek of St. Catharines, Ont., composers Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, both of Toronto, and Alberta's Northern Cree and Friends.
Veteran rocker Neil Young lost out in the solo rock vocal performance category to Bob Dylan and rock song category to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Young, who led Canadian prospects with three nominations, had to wait until the evening telecast to find out if he had nabbed the trophy for best rock album.
