Adele broke her Grammy award in half after picking up the coveted Album of the Year prize because she didn’t feel she deserved it.
The ‘Hello’ singer – who, along with the late David Bowie, was Sunday night’s (12.02.17) biggest winner after picking up five accolades – was stunned to accept the gong for her record ’25’ as she expected Beyonce to take it home for her visual LP ‘Lemonade’, so damaged the trophy deliberately in order to share the honour with her idol.
She broke down in tears on stage at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and said: "I can’t possibly accept this award.
"I’m very humbled and I’m very grateful and gracious, but my artist of my life is Beyoncé and this album to me, the ‘Lemonade’ album, was just so monumental.
"It was so monumental and so well thought-out and so beautiful and soul-baring. We all got to see another side to you that you don’t always let us see and we appreciate that. All us artists here adore you. You are our light!"
And speaking backstage after accepting the accolade, Adele admitted a piece of her had "died" when she realised she’d won.
She said: "A piece of me died inside. I felt like it was her time to win. What the f**k does she have to do to win album of the year?"
As well as Album of the Year, Adele also scooped Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year for ‘Hello’, and Best Pop Vocal album.
She also performed a tribute to the late George Michael, which she had to start again after becoming overwhelmed with emotion.
Meanwhile, Bowie – who had never won a Grammy when he was alive – was honoured with every accolade he was nominated for at this year’s ceremony, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Recording Package and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
His son, Duncan Jones, later shared a throwback photo on Twitter and wrote: "So proud of you dad! Would hold you up forever. #grammys2017 (sic)"
Elsewhere at the ceremony, Chance the Rapper scooped Best New Artist and Best Rap Album for ‘Coloring Book’, and Beyonce did pick up two prizes, Best Urban Contemporary Album for ‘Lemonade’, and Best Music Video for ‘Formation’.
Album of the Year:
’25’ – Adele
Record of the Year:
‘Hello’ – Adele
Song of the Year:
‘Hello’ – Adele
Best Rap Album:
Chance the Rapper – ‘Coloring Book’
Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Beyonce – ‘Lemonade’
Best Rock Song:
‘Blackstar’ – David Bowie
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
‘Stressed Out’ – Twenty One Pilots
Best New Artist:
Chance the Rapper
Best Pop Vocal Album:
Adele – ’25’
Best Pop Solo Performance:
‘Hello’ – Adele
Best R&B performance:
Solange – ‘Cranes In the Sky’
Best R&B song:
Maxwell – ‘Lake By the Ocean’
Best R&B Album:
Lalah Hathaway – ‘Lalah Hathaway Live’
Best Rap Song:
Drake – ‘Hotline Bling’
Best Dance Recording:
The Chainsmokers – ‘Don’t Let Me Down’
Best dance/electronic album:
Skin – ‘Flume’
Best Music Video:
Beyonce – ‘Formation’
Best Country Song:
‘Humble and Kind’ – Tim McGraw