Jay-Z wins three Grammys, overshadowing Eminem

Jay-Z overshadowed fellow rapper Eminem during a ceremony preceding the main Grammys telecast on Sunday, winning three awards including a pair for his duet with Alicia Keys on the "Empire State of Mind."

Eminem, who leads the field with 10 nominations, received a single Grammy. But he lost in four categories where he had five nominations.

He will compete in four additional categories during the main telecast, which begins at 5 p.m. (0100 GMT Monday).

All but 10 of the 108 categories were announced during a fast-paced early ceremony that was streamed online. The main event revolves around performances from most of the nominees, as well as veterans such as Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan.

Other multiple winners included classical producer David Frost with four prizes, and British rock guitarist Jeff Beck with three.

Lady Gaga, who showed up on the red carpet encased in a giant egg carried by people dressed in gold-colored outfits, won two prizes for "Bad Romance." The flamboyant pop singer, who received six nominations, beat Eminem to claim the short form video prize for the song.

Country trio Lady Antebellum, also up for six awards, won two prizes for their song "Need You Now," which will vie for song and record of the year during the main telecast.

Rock duo the Black Keys also took home a pair of awards.  

Jay-Z's awards were in the rap field where "Empire State of Mind," their valentine to New York, was named best rap song and best rap/sung collaboration. He shares the awards with Keys. He and Keys' husband, Swizz Beatz, shared a performance award for "On to the Next One."

Eminem's "So Afraid" won the Grammy for best rap solo performance. Riding high with a comeback album recounting his near-fatal addiction to prescription medication, Eminem remains a contender for song, album and record of the year as well as best rap album.

Probably the most important category, as far as millions of young girls are concerned, will be best new artist. Pop idol Justin Bieber and hip-hop star Drake, both Canadians, are front-runners for the prize.

PUNK ROCKER WINS MUSICAL SHOW PRIZE

Other winners during the early ceremony included veterans Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Mavis Staples and Buddy Guy. But they were spring chickens compared to 97-year-old Pinetop Perkins, who won the prize for traditional blues album, extending his record as the oldest recipient.

In a victory considered inconceivable a few years ago, punk rocker Billie Joe Armstrong won a Grammy for best musical show album for "American Idiot," the Broadway adaptation of his band Green Day's concept album of the same name.

A boxed set packaging the mono versions of the Beatles' albums was named best historical album. The Oscar winning movie "Crazy Heart" generated two wins in the visual media field.