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Lauryn Hill picked up five Grammys, including best new artist

That thing: Lauryn Hill sets Grammy record

ALSO: Check out the list of Grammy winners

Web posted on:
Wednesday, February 24, 1999 11:40:20 PM EST

(CNN) -- Lauryn Hill has reached a new peak.

The 23-year-old singer on Wednesday took home five Grammys -- a record for a woman -- as the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences celebrated the best in the music business.

RELATED VIDEO
CNN's Dennis Michael recaps the show
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Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," her debut solo effort, won Grammys for album of the year (the first time a hip-hop artist has won this category), best new artist, best female R&B vocal performance, best R&B song, and best R&B album.

"Wow, this is so amazing," Hill said. "I thank God. This is crazy because this is hip-hop music."

Hill's victory highlighted another Grammy year of the woman, dominated by song divas in several categories.

Artist: Lauryn Hill

Album: "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"

Hill, a native of South Orange, New Jersey, saw her musical career take off after critics heard her gritty alto performance on the Fugees' 1993 debut, "Blunted on Reality." "Miseducation" is her first solo offering.

Sound: "Doo Wop (That Thing)" - 65K WAV
(Sound courtesy Sony Music)

Pop queen Madonna, now 40, earned three Grammys -- one for best pop album, one for best dance recording, and one for best short form music video. Until Wednesday, she had only won one Grammy in her career.

Country crossover star Shania Twain won two Grammys for her country ode to commitment, "You're Still the One": one for best female country vocal performance, and writing honors -- which she shared with her husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange -- for best country song.

Sheryl Crow poses with her best rock album Grammy
Clip: "My Favorite Mistake" 293k WAV
(Clip courtesy A&M Records)

Sheryl Crow took home honors for best rock album. Alanis Morissette, meanwhile, won best female rock vocal performance for "Uninvited."

On the country side, the Dixie Chicks pulled a major upset, winning best country album for "Wide Open Spaces," their first major-label effort. The 20-something trio that has infused country music with hip flair reacted with delighted shock when they were announced as the winners in a category that included Shania Twain.

"We thought for sure Shania got it," said Dixie Chick Emily Erwin. "We're freaking out."

Film and music star Will Smith won best rap solo for "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It."

In his acceptance speech, Smith shared another special moment with the crowd.

"Today, I had my first parent-teacher meeting, so I'm kind of emotional right now," Smith said, revealing that his son Trey was doing well in school, except in one category. "She told me his rhyming skills are down ... That's just pure parental neglect! I wanna dedicate this (Grammy) to my son Trey. And Trey, there's always law school, baby."

Madonna performed "Nothing Really Matters" from her latest album "Ray of Light."
Clip: "Ray of Light" 180k WAV
(Clip courtesy Warner Bros. Records)

Red Madonna

The 41st Annual Grammy Awards, televised by CBS and Webcast on the official Grammys site (www.grammy.com), began with Madonna -- decked out in a fire-engine red, kimono-styled outfit -- performing "Nothing Really Matters," a single from her "Ray of Light" album.

Several other musicians performed on the show, including Hill, Luciano Pavarotti, Crow, Morissette, and Twain, who wins the unofficial award for most daring outfit -- a skimpy black miniskirt with boots to mid-thigh, and a black collar around her neck.

This year's show was hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. The event was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The "Titanic" ballad "My Heart Will Go On," sung by Celine Dion, earned four Grammys -- record of the year, song of the year, best female pop vocal performance and best song written for a motion picture or television.

Celine Dion sailed away with 2 Grammys courtesy of the "Titanic" hit, "My Heart Will Go On."
Clip: "My Heart Will Go On" 80k WAV
(Clip courtesy Sony Music)

A total of 95 Grammys were handed out.

Like last year, women dominated the nominations, prompting O'Donnell to joke, "There are so many women nominated this year, Fox is backstage filming 'When Divas Attack.'"

Johnny Cash, Mel Torme, Smokey Robinson, the late Sam Cooke and Otis Redding each received lifetime achievement awards from the Recording Academy this year.

The songwriting teams of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were honored with trustees' awards for outstanding contributions by nonperformers.



RELATED STORIES:
McLachlan, Cox among pre-Grammy performers
February 24, 1999
Grammys high on Hill
January 5, 1999

RELATED SITES:
Official Grammy site
The Recording Academy
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