Madonna was the lady in red, but Shania rocked the house. Fifteen years ago Madonna was a vision in white as she rolled across the stage at the Video Music Awards, singing "Like a Virgin." But at Wednesday night's Grammy Awards at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium, Madonna opted for a bolder color -- even if her performance was rather tame by comparison.

Trading in her Indian garb for a traditional red kimono, a lithe Madonna sang a breathy version of "Nothing Really Matters" in front of a faux Japanese rock garden, flanked by dancers clothed in white gauze and cuddling bags of water.

Alanis Morissette also struck a symphonic pose for her number, a stoic yet effective version of "Uninvited," her contribution to the "City of Angels" soundtrack that garnered the singer both of her Grammys, for Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

Other live highlights included blues legends B.B. King and Eric Clapton trading licks on "Rock Me Baby," Natalie Cole cooing her way through several Duke Ellington tunes in a tribute to the big band leader, and Latin pop star Ricky Martin scoring big with "La Copa De Vida," the official song of the 1998 World Cup competition.

After later earning a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance for "Vuelve," Martin was bum-rushed in the backstage press area by Madonna, who ran up and kissed the singer twice, then ran off saying, "I just wanted to congratulate you on your win."

Madonna later returned to the press area to apologize for barging in on Martin, and explained that she "just had to do it because he was so cute."

Fittingly enough, Lauryn Hill, the night's big winner with five Grammys, closed out the show with her nouveau beat hymn, "To Zion," which found virtuoso guitarist Carlos Santana -- a past Grammy winner in his own right -- delivering some flamenco-styled parts as Hill high-stepped it across the stage in a flowing white gown.

For more on Grammys, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow.

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