LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sam Smith’s songs have brought fans to tears, but he was choked up when he earned his first Grammy Award for best new artist.
“Oh my gosh. I have to try to stay something without crying,” the singer said onstage, wearing a burgundy suit.
Taylor Swift presented the award to her friend, who is nominated for five other honours, including album, song and record of the year.
“As a former loser of best new artist … it’s gonna be fine. Just shake it off,” Swift said.
Sam Smith accepts the award for best new artist at the 57th annual Grammy Awards.
In one of 23 performances set for the awards show, AC/DC kicked off the show with a performance of their latest single, Rock or Bust, and then transitioned into the classic Highway to Hell. It earned a rousing applause from Pharrell, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, who wore devil horns.
As the Grammys pre-show ended, Rosanne Cash led with three Grammys, while Beyonce, Pharrell, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar earned two awards apiece.
“Reagan was president last time I won a Grammy,” said Cash, who won best American roots performance, American roots song and Americana album Sunday. “I just showed up for work for 35 years and this is what happened.”
Lamar, who lost in seven categories last year, marked a redemption by winning best rap performance and rap song for i.
Beyonce won best R&B song for Drunk In Love and surround sound album for Beyonce. The album lost best urban contemporary album to Pharrell’s G I R L, with hitmaker picking up best music video for the ubiquitous jam, Happy.
Eminem won best rap album, beating Common and Iggy Azalea. He also won best rap/sung collaboration for The Monster with Rihanna. Chick Corea and the Frozen soundtrack also won two awards each.
Beyonce, Pharrell and Smith were the Grammy leaders with six nominations each.
“I’m just happy people know who I am,” Smith said on the red carpet. “Last year, no one knew who I was.”
Smith added that if he won Sunday night, he would celebrate at In-N-Out Burger.
The late Joan Rivers won best spoken word album for Diary of a Mad Diva, and her daughter, Melissa Rivers, was on hand to accept the award.
