Lady Gaga's Egg-Cellent Arrival

KOMPAS.com - Lady Gaga has caused a stir at the Grammy Awards before she has even stepped on stage. The pop star, known for her outlandish fashion, has arrived on the red carpet ensconced in an egg.

Kelly Osbourne tweeted her arrival, saying "You will not believe your eyes when you see how @ladygaga showed up at the Grammys."

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lady Gaga conducted a red carpet interview with Ryan Seacrest from inside the egg.

Lady Gaga is nominated for the Album of the Year award. On Friday she released the first single from her new album Born This Way.

Aretha celebrated as Grammys begin

A recovering Aretha Franklin made her first televised appearance before a national audience as the Grammys began with a multi-genre tribute to the Queen of Soul, who is recovering from surgery.

Dressed in white, a healthy looking Franklin - who has yet to disclose what was ailing her - thanked well-wishers for their prayers and cards during her hospitalisation.

"I wish that I could have been with you all tonight, but since I couldn't, next year," she said.

The Recording Academy tapped some of music's best powerhouse vocalists for the tribute, with Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, best new artist nominee Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, and gospel singer Yolanda Adams belting through some of Franklin's greatest hits.

Lady Gaga an early winner

Lady Gaga won the first award of the day as the Grammys pre-telecast ceremony began in the afternoon.

Rihanna the Black Keys and Keith Urban were among the other early winners, with awards given out in a ceremony before the prime-time telecast.

Rihanna beat out Lady Gaga for best dance recording with Only Girl (In The World).

Empire State of Mind, by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, won two early awards - best rap collaboration and best rap song. Eminem won best rap solo performance for Not Afraid.

The Black Keys won for best alternative album for Brothers, beating Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire.

Australia's Keith Urban won the fourth Grammy of his career, beating Toby Keith, Jamey Johnson, David Nail and Chris Young for best male country vocal performance.

The pre-televised ceremony is where the bulk of the Recording Academy's 109 awards are doled out. The show is only broadcast online and top nominees usually don't attend.

The live telecast will feature the top nominees, such as record of the year. Lady Antebellum's Need You Now is nominated in both the song and the record of the year categories.

Other nominees for record of the year include Jay-Z's Empire State of Mind, the New York native's anthem for his city featuring Alicia Keys, and rapper B.o.B's Nothin' On You, with a melodious hook courtesy of Bruno Mars.