Coldplay claim Grammy song prize

Coldplay were among the acts to perform at the Grammys

Coldplay have won the prestigious song of the year prize for their track Viva La Vida at the US music industry's top awards ceremony, the Grammys.

It was the band's second prize of the evening, having landed a performance prize for the same song in the early stages of the Los Angeles ceremony.

The British group had been nominated for seven prizes and lead a UK-only shortlist for record of the year.

Adele added to British successes by winning best new artist.

Irish rock icons U2 began the evening with new single Get On Your Boots.

Coldplay drummer Will Champion aimed his thank you speech at former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, who was sitting in the audience.

"Thank you and sorry for blatantly recycling the Sergeant Pepper album," Champion said.

Radiohead took two prizes in the initial stages of the ceremony - best alternative album for In Rainbows and best boxed or special edition album, an award which goes to its designers.

Adele won best pop vocal performance for Chasing Pavements, while Duffy won best pop vocal album.

Lil Wayne had the most nominations, eight in total, for his album Tha Carter III.

The US rapper scooped three awards in the early part of the ceremony, but lost best rap/sung collaboration to Estelle and Kanye West's American Boy.

Hudson success

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's work has been critically acclaimed

US singer and actress Jennifer Hudson - back in the spotlight after the murders of her mother, brother and nephew last year - won her first Grammy in the best R&B album category.

"I don't really know what to say," said Hudson, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm just in awe right now.

"I would like to thank my family in heaven and those that are here today. I just don't know where to start. Everybody, thank you all."

Alongside Coldplay, the record of the year category features Adele, X Factor winner Leona Lewis and MIA.

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant also gets a nomination alongside American bluegrass star Alison Krauss.

The pair took two prizes in the early part of the ceremony - contemporary folk/Americana album, and country collaboration with vocals for Killing The Blues.

Rihanna pulls out

Performers at the Staples Center are due to include female vocalist MIA, whose baby is expected on the day of the ceremony.

However, singer Rihanna pulled out after Los Angeles police announced her partner, R&B star Chris Brown, was being investigated for allegedly attacking a woman in a car on Saturday night.

Jennifer Hudson was honoured for her eponymous album

Brown was also due to perform, and it was not immediately clear if his performance would go ahead.

The Associated Press said a spokesman for the artist had no comment when approached at the venue. Police did not name the woman who had made the complaint.

Other early winners, announced ahead of the main ceremony, included late comedian George Carlin.

His daughter, Kelly Carlin-McCall, accepted the comedy album prize for It's Bad For Ya, released last July following his death from a heart attack aged 71.

"It's like the cherry on the top of a really, big beautiful cake," Ms Carlin-McCall said backstage.

"I'm just so happy people are honouring my father. Yet he's not here and I'd rather have him."

R&B star Al Green, gospel performer Kirk Franklin, French dance duo Daft Punk, country singer Brad Paisley and R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo took two prizes each in the early part of the ceremony.

So did British rocker Peter Gabriel, honoured for his work on the Pixar cartoon Wall-E.