LOS ANGELES, AMERICA - British group Coldplay and musical odd couple Robert Plant and Alison Krauss dominated the early honors at the Grammys here Sunday, taking a clutch of top awards at the music industry's Oscars.

Plant and Krauss took four awards, including record of the year, stemming from their groundbreaking rock-country collaboration, while Coldplay scooped three honors, including song of the year.

Both Coldplay and Plant & Krauss are nominated in the coveted album of the year award, the last honor of the night to be revealed later Sunday.

Coldplay's early honors came for 'Vida La Vida,' their chart-topping single from their album of the same name.

Legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Plant meanwhile said his collaboration with country singer Krauss had been a 'fantastic experience'.

'Forty years after landing in this town it's all different,' said Plant after collecting the best pop collaboration with vocals award.

'It's fantastic. This project has been spectacular all the way through.'

Plant and Krauss also won Grammys for best country collaboration with vocals, best contemporary folk/Americana album, and record of the year. In other early awards Sunday, rapper Lil Wayne picked up three awards including best rap performance and best rap song.

British singer-songwriter Adele won the Grammy award for best new artist here Sunday.

The 20-year-old Londoner pipped fellow Briton Duffy for the award, as well as fellow nominees Jonas Brothers, country group Lady Antebellum and Philadelphia soul singer Jazmine Sullivan.

'Thank you so much, I'm going cry,' Adele said. 'Duffy I love you, I think you're amazing. Jonas Brothers I love you as well,' she added.

Meanwhile as the awards got underway, a behind-the-scenes drama involving pop singer Rihanna forced organizers to make an 11th hour change to their star-studded line-up of artists due to perform.

Police in Los Angeles confirmed they were seeking Rihanna's boyfriend, singer-songwriter Chris Brown, in connection with an allegation of domestic violence.

The 20-year-old Barbados-born singer had been due to perform early in the show but organizers abruptly announced her withdrawal just before the event.

'We have just been informed that Rihanna will not be attending the 51st Grammy Awards,' a spokeswoman said. 'We're sorry she will not be performing this evening. We have no further information.'

Rihanna's performance was hastily filled with a duet between Justin Timberlake and soul legend Al Green.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny that Rihanna was the victim in an alleged domestic violence incident. Meanwhile, tragic singer Jennifer Hudson won the first Grammy of her career after triumphing in the best R&B album category.

Hudson, 27, who is re-emerging into the spotlight after the murders of her mother, brother and nephew last year, won for her album 'Jennifer Hudson'. The former contestant on reality television show 'American Idol' won a best supporting actress Oscar two years ago for her performance in 'Dreamgirls'.

'I don't really know what to say,' said Hudson, her voice cracking with emotion after she received the award from Whitney Houston. 'Wow, I'm just in awe right now.

'I would like to thank my family in heaven and those that are here today. I just don't know where to start. Everybody, thank you all.'

Hudson later received a standing ovation for a barnstorming rendition of 'You Pulled Me Through'.

There were wins too for Alicia Keys, whose single 'Superwoman' earned the best female R & B vocal performance, and Ne Yo, who won the equivalent male award for 'Miss Independent'.

Elsewhere there was a win for 83-year-old 'King of the Blues' BB King, whose 'One Kind Favor' won the best traditional blues album. The win was the 15th Grammy of King's epic four-decade-old career.

After gathering his award, the legendary Mississippi bluesman told reporters he had been delighted by the election of President Barack Obama.

'It makes me think that America is really growing up,' King said. 'America is becoming America.' -AFP