Eminem Gets Best Rap Album Grammy

Feb. 21, 2001 -- Who better to get the Grammys off to a splashy start than Madonna? The singer emerged from a sequined limousine onstage as her new husband Guy Ritchie looked on from the audience.

The newlywed danced her way through her hit single, "Music," accompanied by musicians and dancers onstage while paying homage to her vast career with video clips and a tank top sporting the phrase "Material Girl."

"As I was watching Madonna writhing around on the hood of the car" host Jon Stewart quipped in his opening monologue, "I was thinking, that is really going to drive up her insurance premium."

Stewart was quick to address the controversy over rap singer Eminem, under fire for his violent and homophobic lyrics. As the biggest stars in the music business made their entrances, protesters lined up outside of Los Angeles' Staples Center to contest Eminem's violent and homophobic lyrics.

Stewart said he wasn't sure what all the controversy is all about, saying, "I've met Eminem and he's really gay."

The rap star picked up the Best Rap Album award for his Marshall Mathers LP, beating out Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, DMX, and Nelly. "I guess first of all I want to thank everybody who could look past the controversy and see the album for what it is and what it isn't."

He also commented on another notorious rapper, Sean "Puffy" Combs. Stewart acknowledged the Grammy winner couldn't attend because he was on trial for gun possession and bribery charges in New York.

"We do not know whether he will be convicted," he said. "But I'm sure he would say it's an honor just to be indicted."

Awards for Eminem, Macy Gray, Johnny Cash

The controversy did not stop Grammy voters from awarding Eminem who is nominated for four awards. He picked up two before the telecast began for best solo rap performance and best rap performance by a duo or group for his collaboration with his mentor and producer Dr. Dre.

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences began handing out awards this afternoon, also awarding Sting as Best Male Pop Vocal, and five-time nominee Beonce Knowles of Destiny's Child picked up her first award of the night as one of several songwriters named for best R&B Song "Say My Name."

Johnny Cash, who was just released from a Tennessee hospital today after a bout with pneumonia, won the award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Solitary Man."

As the broadcast began, Macy Gray picked up the first kudo. She beat out Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Britney Spears, Aimee Mann and Jonie Mitchell for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "I Try." Gray thanked her mentors, including Prince and Chaka Khan and saying, "I'm really flattered by all of you who voted for me."

They may all be upstaged later though, by the surprise pairing of Eminem and Elton John, which has drawn criticism from gay rights groups who are protesting outside the Staples Center.

The two may dispel some of that criticism — or add to the frustration — by making a strong fashion statement. Eminem and John plan to take to the stage tonight wearing Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation T-shirts, according to the Advocate.com. The gay-rights Web site quoted a source close to Eminem as saying the bleached blond bad boy would don the T-shirt along with John.

Also on the bill as performers are U2, Paul Simon, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera and Faith Hill.

Event Draws Fire

NARAS normally gets flak for its conservative choices. But this year it can no longer be criticized for avoiding edgy performers — not with Eminem up for four honors, including the prized Album of the Year award for The Marshall Mathers LP.

The album topped the charts in 2000, but enraged women's and gay-rights activists, who say his violent lyrics are misogynistic and homophobic.

Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP is competing with an unusually diverse group of nominees. Also in the running are art rockers Radiohead for Kid A, Beck's Midnight Vultures and two big names from the 1970s. Steely Dan, who picked up the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal, is also up for Best Album for Two Against Nature, and Paul Simon could set a record if he wins his fourth award in this category. He's nominated for You're the One.

Alan Light, editor-in-chief of Spin magazine.

Grammy historian Tim O'Neil says Simon, who was also named Grammy's MusiCares person of the year, heads into the Album of the Year competition with one advantage. "[The voters] love to salute veterans in this category, like Bob Dylan, Clapton, Carlos Santana."

Alan Light, editor-in-chief of Spin magazine, suggests using the process of elimination if you're trying to gauge who will walk away with the evening's top prize.

"Radiohead and Beck don't have any chance, and I think Paul Simon probably wins over Steely Dan within that part of the voters," said Light. "I kind of think it's Paul Simon or Eminem, which is an insane thing to say. Especially when it's gotten so contentious.

"To the Grammys' credit, I think that these nominations accurately reflect how fragmented pop music is now," said Light. "And the thing is they're really big fragments, the music industry has grown so much that you have these big pockets of support for these disparate acts."

And viewers can expect to see a parade of disparate acts making their way to the podium. Unlike last year, when Santana swept the awards, there is no single leader. Sharing the most nominations are Eminem's mentor Dr. Dre and Beonce Knowles of Destiny's Child with five apiece.

New Artist Lynne, U2 Nab Three

An equally diverse category is Best New Artist, where nominees include singer Shelby Lynne, country newcomer Brad Paisley, hard rockers Papa Roach, soul singer Jill Scott, and "Thong Song" master Sisqo.

Soulful singer Lynne came away the winner, dressed in a sexy cropped blue top and skirt, she came to the podium and thanked her family for encouraging her to "be an individual."

Enduring rockers U2, won all three of the categories they were nominated in, even though their new album is not eligible for awards. All That You Can't Leave Behind, was released after the cutoff date for the Best Album category.

They picked up three awards for "Beautiful Day," including Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group and Song of the Year.

Among the thanks from the band, Bono said, "I would like to thank God and my mother also, but I just have this feeling or picture in my head of God looking down us going 'oh don't thank me for that song … the chorus was weak.'"