Beyoncé bags the booty with five Grammys

COLDPLAY stole some of hip-hop’s thunder at the Grammys, but the night belonged to Beyoncé Knowles, who took home a record-equalling five trophies.

In a tightly-scripted show devoid of outrageousness or spontaneity, Janet Jackson's Super Bowl breast flash at the hands of dance partner Justin Timberlake remained the major talking point.

Curses or cleavage were in short supply, with the exception of Christina Aguilera's dangerously low-cut pink dress.

"I know it's been a rough week on everybody," said Timberlake, stifling a self-deprecating laugh while accepting the best male pop vocal performance award for Cry Me a River.

"What occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable, and I apologise if you guys are offended."

Luther Vandross, recovering from a stroke, won for best song, best R&B album and best male R&B performance for Dance With My Father and best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for The Closer I Get to You, with Beyoncé. It was the R&B crooner's first win in a major category in his 20-year-plus career.

Beyoncé won two trophies for Crazy In Love for best R&B song and best rap/sung collaboration. She also won best female R&B performance and best contemporary R&B album for Dangerously in Love, and best R&B performance by a duo or group for her song with Vandross.

She tied with Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Lauryn Hill for the most Grammys won by a female artist.

"This is unbelievable," said an excited Beyoncé.

British rock band Coldplay, up against four hip-hop nominees for record of the year, won for their song Clocks, and dedicated the award to Democrat presidential front-runner John Kerry.

Rockers Evanescence caused an upset, winning best new artist over rapper 50 Cent.

The ceremony honoured a slew of dead stars, earning it the tag 'The Grimmys'.

Rock singer Warren Zevon, who rushed to complete a final album before his September death from lung cancer, won his first two Grammy Awards.

June Carter Cash also won two posthumous awards, and her husband Johnny Cash and former Beatle George Harrison were also honoured after their deaths.

OutKast, nominated for a leading six Grammys, won three: best album, best urban/alternative performance for Hey Ya! and best rap album for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It was the first rap album to win most of the awards in top categories.