Even with the pall cast by the untimely passing of Whitney Houston hanging over the Grammy Awards telecast, like a sheer lamé shroud (you just know that the ceremony’s producers spent the past 24 hours glued to their smartphones, mapping-out suitable testimonials, shouts-out, tributes and what-whats) – it was nice to observe that the evening managed to proceed with an appropriately celebratory vibe.

LL Cool J was fantastic in his return as host, and many of the musical acts were great – including those of Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Taylor Swift (who was completely taken aback by her well-received standing ovation), Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt; Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean, Rihanna and Coldplay, and the tributes to Glen Campbell (featuring The Band Perry and Blake Shelton) and The Beach Boys (featuring Foster the People and Maroon 5).

My faves?  Jennifer Hudson’s emotional rendering of Whitney Houston’s soul-version of Dolly Parton’s classic country ballad “I Will Always Love You” hit all the right notes and buttons; and Adele’s triumphant singing of “Rolling in the Deep” allowed millions of fans to breathe a hearty sigh of relief, that their beloved songbird was back, post-surgery, and better than ever.

It was clearly Adele’s evening, because, in addition to her bravura performance (that brought the audience to a standing ovation that just seemed to go on and on), the soulful songstress collected trophies in each of the half-dozen categories for which she’d been nominated, including Best Pop Solo Performance (for “Someone Like You”); Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year (both for 21); and Best Short Form Music Video, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year (all for Billboard juggernaut “Rolling in the Deep”).

The 54th Grammys
CBS – Sunday, February 12th

Get into it!