... Plant, Krauss make a sweep at Grammys

Robert Plant (left) and Alison Krauss hold their awards for album of the year and best pop collaboration with vocals awards backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. [Agencies]

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 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 US release of 2008.

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R&B star Chris Brown, 19, inadvertently supplied some last-minute fireworks. The two-time nominee and scheduled performer was arrested on Sunday evening and charged with making criminal threats in connection with an attack on an unidentified woman widely thought to be his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.

Grammy organizers were forced to substitute a performance by R&B icon Al Green. Brown's girlfriend, three-time nominee Rihanna, 20, also scrapped her planned performance.

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."

Raising Sand on which the odd couple reworked old folk ballads and R&B chestnuts, was an instant critical and commercial hit.

"I'm still amazed that I get to do this for a living, and that I get to work and continue to work in an inspired way," Krauss said. "To think how spoiled I've really been is amazing, to be in a place ... where I am kept up at night by my work."

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.

Adele, a 20-year-old London native, took the best new artist award over Duffy, teen idols the Jonas Brothers, country act lady Antebellum and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan. She won the female pop vocal prize for her tune Chasing Pavements.