This year, the 51st annual Grammy Awards ceremony was prefaced by a fair bit of drama -- and we're not just talking about T-Pain's suit. (Judging from Zooey Deschanel's wider-eyed-than-usual expression in this photo, we think there's a good chance it was taken the moment she and fiancée Ben Gibbard caught sight of the rapper's duds).

But back to the real drama: We are of course referring to the fact that Chris Brown and Rihanna abruptly cancelled their Grammy performances mere hours before the show in the wake of what appears to have been a domestic dispute between the two, resulting in Brown's subsequent arrest. The pair was replaced by Justin Timberlake and Al Green. (And here we thought that M.I.A.'s late-in-the-game addition to the bill would be the lineup change everyone was talking about -- what with the fact that the extremely pregnant star's due date coincided with the event).

So, yeah: One could say that Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Album of the Year win (which nearly everyone predicted) was ever-so-slightly anti-climactic in comparison to all the real-life tumult surrounding the festivities. Even so, the night still brought a surprise or two -- and loads of great performances. Below, check out a highlight list of the evening's winners [via grammy.com].

Record of the Year: "Please Read the Letter," Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Album of the Year: Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Song of the Year: "Viva La Vida," Coldplay
Best New Artist: Adele

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Chasing Pavements," Adele
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Say," John Mayer
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Viva La Vida," Coldplay
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Rich Woman," Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Best Pop Vocal Album: Rockferry, Duffy

Best Dance Recording: "Harder Better Faster Stronger," Daft Punk
Best Electronic/Dance Album: Alive 2007, Daft Punk
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Still Unforgettable, Natalie Cole
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Gravity," John Mayer

Best Rock Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Sex On Fire," Kings of Leon


Best Hard Rock Performance: "Wax Simulacra," The Mars Volta

Best Metal Performance: "My Apocalypse," Metallica

Best Rock Song: "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," Bruce Springsteen
Best Rock Album: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay

Best Alternative Music Album: In Rainbows, Radiohead


Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Superwoman," Alicia Keys

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Miss Independent," Ne-Yo


Best Rap Solo Performance: "A Milli" - Lil Wayne

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: "Swagga Like Us" - Jay-Z & T.I. featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "American Boy," Estelle featuring Kanye West

Best Rap Song: "Lollipop," Lil Wayne featuring Static Major

Best Rap Album: Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne