Toward the end of a sizzling all-star tribute to Stone, the man himself emerged, sporting a blond mohawk against his 61-year-old brown scalp, and made his way through I Want To Take You Higher. Though the tribute was planned, many didn't expect Stone to show up.
``I think we just got upstaged,'' said Keith Urban, who was standing backstage and saw the performance begin playing on a nearby monitor.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney was featured in the night's most intriguing mash-up, walking onstage to sing Yesterday with rockers Linkin Park and rap mogul Jay-Z.
Alison Krauss & Union Station also had three awards, including best country album, while Stevie Wonder, who released his first album in a decade last year, had two.
A brief, impromptu performance by Wonder and Alicia Keys was the first to energize the crowd.
Later on, Wonder pulled out his harmonica and the two soulfully sang his classic Higher Ground as a tribute to Coretta Scott King, whose funeral was Tuesday.
``Let's keep trying to reach that higher ground,'' Keys said. ``I forever want to reach that higher ground.''
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