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Reuters
Reuters
Entertainment
Jill Serjeant and Dan Whitcomb

Billie Eilish sweeps Grammy Awards with top four prizes

62nd Grammy Awards – Photo Room– Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 – Billie Eilish poses backstage with her awards to include Song of the Year for "Bad Guy" , Best New Artist, and Album of the Year for "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?". REUTERS/Monica Almeida

(This January 26 story corrects quote in sixth paragraph to climate change, not environmental change)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Teen sensation Billie Eilish swept the Grammy Awards on Sunday, winning all four top prizes - album, song, record of the year and best new artist - in a rare feat at the music industry's highest honors.

62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell accept the award for Song Of The Year for "Bad Guy." REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Eilish, an 18-year-old newcomer with a unique sound, won for her debut studio album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" while her hit single "Bad Guy" was named record of the year and song of the year. In all, she took home five awards.

She is only the second person, and the youngest, to win all four top Grammys on the same night.

Eilish, distinguished by her green hair and baggy clothes, recorded the album with her brother Finneas in the bedroom of their Los Angeles home. Finneas also won the Grammy for non classical producer of the year.

Nas performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020. Picture taken January 26, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

They seemed taken aback by their Grammy haul, which saw them triumph over established stars including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and rapper Post Malone.

"We didn't make this album to win a Grammy. We wrote about depression and suicidal thoughts and climate change," Finneas said as the pair accepted the awards. "We stand up here confused and grateful."

Asked backstage what she would do next, Eilish said, "Being in this moment is all I'm thinking about... I'm gonna do whatever I feel."

62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Billie Eilish performs. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

The Grammy Awards show opened with a dedication to basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter accident earlier in the day and whose Los Angeles Lakers team has its home at the city's Staples Center and Grammy venue.

"We are literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," said Grammy host Alicia Keys. "We never imagined in a million years we'd have to start the show like this."

R&B star Lizzo won three of her eight nominations, while gay black country rapper Lil Nas X took two for his viral "Old Town Road" collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus.

62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Lizzo accepts the award for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Truth Hurts." REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Lil Nas X, 20, wearing a cowboy hat and silver lure suit, and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus dazzled the house with a kitschy performance of their viral collaboration "Old Town Road," with contributions from stars ranging from K-Pop band BTS to young yodeler Mason Ramsey.

"He told the world he was gay and overnight he became an inspiration and a role model for hundreds of young people around the world," comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who is also gay, said as she introduced Lil Nas X.

Grande performed a medley of hits from her break-up album "Thank u, Next," including "7 Rings" and "Imagine" but won none of the five Grammys for which she was nominated.

62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Show host Alicia Keys speaks about the passing of NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant (seen on large screen). REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, 33, who was gunned down in his Los Angeles neighborhood last year, won two Grammys and was honored in a tribute by John Legend, DJ Khaled and rapper Meek Mill.

Blake Shelton and his fiancee Gwen Stefani held hands as they debuted their new romantic duet "Nobody But You," while Camila Cabello sang her recent single "First Man" to her tearful father in the audience. Demi Lovato won a standing ovation in her first performance at a major awards show since a drugs overdose in 2018.

The Grammy winners are chosen by members of the Recording Academy, which is currently embroiled in a dispute over the departure of its new chief executive Deborah Dugan and her allegations of conflicts of interest in the nominations process. The Recording Academy has denied the allegations.

62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Lizzo performs. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

(Additional reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing Daniel Wallis, Richard Pullin & Shri Navaratnam)

62nd Grammy Awards – Arrivals – Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 – Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell. REUTERS/Mike Blake
62nd Grammy Awards – Arrivals – Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 – Lizzo. REUTERS/Mike Blake
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Gwen Stefani performs with Blake Shelton. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Pictures of Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant are projected during a tribute. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Demi Lovato performs. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Lil' Nas X accepts the award for Best Music Video for "Old Town Road (Official Movie)." REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Esperanza Spalding accepts the award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for "12 Little Spells." REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Angelique Kidjo performs. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - I'm With Her perform REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Gloria Gaynor accepts the award for Best Roots Gospel Album for "Testimony." REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Rosalia accepts the award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album for "El Mal Querer." REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Mariachi Los Camperos accept the award for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) for "De Ayer Para Siempre." REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
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