Gnarls Barkley turned the Grammy Awards into an airport hangar for their Crazy performance last night - by taking to the stage dressed as pilots.

The duo's backing band all donned stewards' attire, while the full choir that joined the hitmakers onstage at the Staples Center wore orange overalls to look like air traffic control ground staff.

Gnarls Barkley's showstopping performance was one of many live highlights during the ceremony, which was dominated by big-name collaborations.

Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson performed a tribute medley to R+b, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts paid tribute to The Eagles and country legend Bob Wills and John Mayer teamed up with John Legend and Brit Corinne Bailey Rae.

The reunited The Police opened the show with a performance of Roxanne but Mary J Blige, Christina Aguilera and R+b sensation Chris Brown raised the roof with stunning showcases. All three earned standing ovations.

Multi-award winner Blige then returned to perform with double winner Ludacris.

Aguilera paid tribute to late soul star James Brown with a rousing rendition of his anthem It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World, while the Godfather of Soul's namesake, Chris Brown, performed his hit Run It with a fractured foot.