NEW YORK — The music of pop-jazz chanteuse Norah Jones garnered seven Grammy awards last night, catapulting her past crowd favorite Bruce Springsteen and his three awards for the Sept. 11-inspired "The Rising."
A virtual unknown before the last year, Jones won four individual Grammys while her producer, engineers and the writer of her hit "Don't Know Why" were honored as well.
"I never ever thought that the music I made would become popular music, so this is amazing," Jones said as she picked up an award for best pop vocal album.
She also won for best female pop vocal, best new artist and for record of the year for "Don't Know Why," written by Jesse Harris, who won the song of the year Grammy.
Her album, "Come Away With Me," earned best-engineered album, producer of the year honors for Arif Mardin, and the coveted Album of the Year title.
Harris, who thanked Jones for "being a pal," said backstage that he "thought for certain Bruce was going to win."
Springsteen was clearly a favorite of the crowd inside Madison Square Garden as the Grammys returned to New York for the first time in five years.
The Dixie Chicks, after a bitter legal battle with their label Sony, took best country album as one of their three Grammys. The trio's multi-platinum "Home," a return to their country roots, was co-produced by member Natalie Maines' father, Lloyd.
Among the double winners were Eminem, Coldplay, India Arie and Nelly. Eminem's second Grammy came for best rap album, the third time he's won in the category.
Eminem, Jones, Springsteen and Nelly were all nominated for a leading five Grammys apiece, along with perennial Grammy favorite Sheryl Crow, neo-soul singer-songwriter Raphael Saadiq, teen rocker Avril Lavigne and R&B newcomer Ashanti. Saadiq, Crow and Ashanti all won one award.
Country singer Alan Jackson, who wrote "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" in the weeks after the terrorist attack, won best country song for the mournful tune.
India Arie, who was nominated for seven Grammys last year but lost them all, finally got her first two, winning for best urban-alternative performance for "Little Things" and best R&B album for "Voyage to India."
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Nekesa Mumbi Moody
