Former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant received a "whole lotta love" at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, winning five prizes including album of the year for an acclaimed collaboration with bluegrass queen Alison Krauss.
The 60-year-old musician, enshrined in rock annals as the golden-haired, bare-chested singer for one of the biggest bands of the 1970s, was one of several British artists to take center stage at the music industry's top honors.
Other compatriots included rock band Coldplay, who won three awards, including song of the year; 20-year-old London rookie Adele, who won a pair including best new artist; and Welsh newcomer Duffy, who was honored for pop vocal album.
Rapper Lil Wayne, who led the field with eight nominations, ended up with four prizes, including best rap album for Tha Carter III, the biggest-selling U.S. release of 2008.
A posthumous release by comedian George Carlin won best comedy album, pipping a past winner, New Zealand duo Flight of the Conchords.
Plant and Krauss, 37, swept all five categories in which they were also nominated.
They also won record of the year for Please Read The Letter, a reworking of a tune Plant wrote with former Led Zeppelin bandmate Jimmy Page, and prizes in the pop, folk/Americana, and country categories.
"I'm bewildered," Plant said upon winning album of the year, the event's final prize. "In the old days, we would have called this selling out, but I think it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
Led Zeppelin were never honored during their active years between 1968 and 1980, the year the band broke up following the death of drummer John Bonham. Plant's sole wins to date were for a 1990s collaboration with Page and for a Raising Sand tune with Krauss last year.
With 26 wins, Krauss now ties with French conductor Pierre Boulez as the third-most-honored artist in the Grammys' 51-year-history. The only artists ahead of her are late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti with 31, and prolific producer/composer Quincy Jones with 27.
Coldplay, which followed Lil Wayne with seven nominations, ended up with three Grammys. They won song of the year for Viva La Vida, the chart-topping hit that inspired a plagiarism lawsuit from virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani, who claims that it rips off one of his tunes.
Their haul also included best rock album for Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends.
