Whitney Houston was remembered by fellow artists in acceptance speeches and songs at the Grammys. Jennifer Hudson sang Houston's signature hit, I Will Always Love You, and Grammy host LL Cool J offered a prayer for Houston's family, friends and fans.

Houston's body was found in the bathtub of her Beverly Hills hotel room. The cause of death is still unknown.

Besides the top winner Adele at the Grammy Awards, Rockers Foo Fighters were the other big winners, picking up five Grammys including best rock performance for the hit Walk.

"This is a great honor because this record was a special record for our band. Rather than go to the best studio We made this one in my garage with some microphones and a tape machine," frontman Dave Grohl said. "It shows that the human element of making music is what's most important."

Grammy organizers gave out awards in more than 75 categories and many early winners mentioned Houston. Singer Melanie Fiona, who won with Cee Lo Green for a traditional R&B performance for Fool For You, said the singer inspired her.

Other major Grammy winners included Taylor Swift, who picked up Grammys for solo performance and country song with Mean, which she performed to a standing ovation. She had been expected to take best country album, too, but Lady Antebellum swooped in and took that prize with Own the Night.

The other big surprise came when indie folk band Bon Iver took the Grammy for best new artist over rapper Nicki Minaj, who had been widely expected to win behind hit album Pink Friday.

DJ Skrillex won two Grammys for best dance recording and top dance/electronica album with Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.

Jay-Z and Kanye West won best rap performance with their song Otis from the album Watch the Throne, but they failed to show up to claim their prize. Chris Brown won the Grammy for best R&B album F.A.M.E.

Rousing performances were given by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Chris Brown, Coldplay and Rihanna, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt sang a duet of A Sunday Kind of Love from Etta James, who also died in 2012.

Minaj gave fans an over-the-top performance toward the show's final act, and Sir Paul McCartney ended in a guitar-heavy number with Springsteen, Grohl and others. Memorable moments came in a reunion of members of the Beach Boys and a lifetime award for Glen Campbell, who sang Rhinestone Cowboy.