With a hug from Elton John, a few "s"-words keeping CBS censors busy, and a middle finger for anyone else, the controversial rapper was not ignored at the music industry's preeminent awardsfest, taking home three honors including Best Rap Album for The Marshall Mathers LP and Rap Solo Performance for "The Real Slim Shady."

"Wow. What should I say first?" Eminem said. "I want to thank everybody who could look past the controversy to see the album for what it was...and what it isn't."

And, just as closely watched, the hip-hopster performed a powerful rendition of "Stan," as promised, with Elton John.

But perhaps the most stunning moment of the night came after Eminem performed, when jazz-rockers Steely Dan upset the competition to grab Album of the Year honors for Two Against Nature, tying with Irish rock mainstays U2, country pop star Hill, and Eminem with three trophies apiece.

"Well this is a really great honor for our fans, and us," said Walter Becker, who, with partner Donald Fagen, had never received a Grammy in their 30-year career. The duo's album, Two Against Nature, also picked up a fourth golden gramophone in a technical category, Engineered Album (Non-Classical).

U2, meanwhile, went three-for-three, taking Record of the Year and Song of the Year (songwriter) honors for its anthemic "Beautiful Day" from the critically acclaimed album All That You Can't Leave Behind (which wasn't released in time to be eligible for this year's awards).

"It is an unusual emotion I feel now," U2 frontman Bono told the crowd. "It is called humility."

Country chanteuse Faith Hill nabbed Best Country Album for her heavily trophied disc, Breathe, and Best Female Country Vocal Performance honors for the single of the same name. She and hubby Tim McGraw picked up Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "Let's Make Love."

Answering the question about whether rap artists would get honored by the typically conservative Academy voters, Dr. Dre and his protégé, Eminem, both scored big. The pair picked up trophies early on, sharing the award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for their collaboration on "Forgot About Dre," the single from Dre's disc, Dr. Dre 2001. Dre was named Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) for his work on his and Eminem's albums.

But this year, who picked up what trophy was overshadowed by who was performing--namely, the Real Slim Shady and his duet with John. About 100 gay-rights and women's groups on Wednesday protested outside the Staples Center as the Recording Academy handed its stage to the rapper, but host Jon Stewart tried to defuse the controversy surrounding lyrics early on, warning the kids at home, "Saturday Night is not alright for fighting."

And besides, Stewart said, he met Eminem backstage, "and he is really gay."

Eminem eventually made his much-anticipated appearance, on a sparsely decorated stage as he played both himself and his mentally deranged fan. John sang the chorus, and at the end, the pair embraced before getting a standing ovation.

And, in one last statement, Eminem threw up a middle finger.

Eminem was one of several artists to deliver stirring performances. Christina Aguilera delivered a soulful medley in Spanish from her album Mi Reflejo, Madonna danced atop a sequined-covered limo while warbling "Music" and, in one of the night's more, um, unique displays, Moby and R&B singer Jill Scott joined forces to sing his "Natural Blues," while the avant garde Blue Man Group shot out streamers from their makeshift instruments into the crowd.

In other categories, Dave Grohl scored his first Grammy win since Nirvana, as his rock outfit the Foo Fighters snagged Best Rock Album for There Is Nothing Left to Lose, and Best Short-Form Music Video for "Learn to Fly."

D'Angelo grabbed two honors, for Best R&B Album for Voodoo and Best Male R&B Vocal for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)." Blues legend B.B. King picked up a pair of golden gramophones for Best Traditional Blues Album (for his collaboration with Eric Clapton, Riding With the King) and for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for his duet with Dr. John, "Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)."

And "13 years and six albums" after she first began her career, country rocker Shelby Lynne was named Best New Artist for her critically hailed disc, I Am Shelby Lynne. "I stand here tonight and represent nothing but music," she said.

The Grammys' Lifetime Achievement Awards went to the Who, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Bob Marley and the Beach Boys, while the Trustees Awards went to producers Phil Ramone and Arif Mardin.

Finally, Johnny Cash, fresh out of the hospital after battling pneumonia, also scored a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his track "Solitary Man" from American III: Solitary Man.

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