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Three top Grammys now staying with Sam Smith

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FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2014, file photo, Sam Smith performs on stage at the 42nd annual American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles. Tom Petty has earned a writing credit on Sam Smith�s megahit �Stay With Me� for its similarities to his song, �I Won�t Back Down.� Smith�s representative said Monday the publishers of Petty�s 1989 hit contacted the publishers of Smith�s song, which was one of last year�s biggest hits. Smith and �Stay With Me� writers James Napier and William Phillips say they agree their song is similar to Petty�s song, written with Jeff Lynne. Petty�s �I Won�t Back Down� peaked at No. 12 on Billboard�s Hot 100 chart. A representative for Petty declined to comment. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

Somewhere in England sits a man who was the unwitting inspiration for the biggest winner at the Grammy Awards.

He's the man who loved, and dumped, 22-year-old British soul singer Sam Smith. Smith's yearning hit, "Stay With Me," won Grammys for song and record of the year and he was named best new artist — three of the four biggest awards the Grammys present each year. His album, "In the Lonely Hour," won best pop vocal album but lost to Beck for album of the year.

Still, not a bad haul.

While accepting his record of the year award, Smith said he wanted to thank the man he's been in love with for the past year "for breaking my heart, 'cause you got me four Grammys."

Backstage later, Smith said that "I'll be seeing him soon, so I can let him touch the Grammys — once."

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Asked what could top his night, Smith said, "A boyfriend would be nice."

Other memorable moments at Sunday's 57th annual Grammy Awards:

Beck's biggie

Beck's award for album of the year was Sunday's biggest surprise. His date mouthed, "Oh, my god," in hugging him after his name was announced and he looked a little shell-shocked walking up to the stage.

Beck's "Morning Phase" was a critical favorite, and it won best rock album. But it sold modestly and, at a time rock has receded in pop music's firmament, he'd been overshadowed by fellow nominees Sam Smith, Pharrell and Beyonce. But Beck won the influential Grammy, and later was joined by Chris Martin for a performance.

Happy time

Pharrell went home happy again.

The producer-performer won three Grammys, including best pop solo performance for a live version of his omnipresent hit, "Happy." He won best music video and best urban contemporary album.

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"This is super awkward and I'm going to moonwalk my way off this stage right now," he said after picking up one trophy.

Known for his headgear, Pharrell donned a bellboys' cap to play "Happy" in a collaboration with Lang Lang and Hans Zimmer.

Country time

She wasn't offered a spotlight on the prime-time broadcast, but veteran singer Rosanne Cash went home with three Grammy Awards for American roots performance, American roots song and Americana album.

"Reagan was president last time I won a Grammy," said Cash, a country star in the 1980s who now lives in New York and keeps away from boisterous mainstream country. "I just showed up for work for 35 years and this is what happened."

Country queen Miranda Lambert's stage show shot off fireworks and she was briefly bleeped during her raucous performance of "Little Red Wagon." She won best country album for "Platinum."

Social issues

The state of the world found a place on the Grammy stage. President Barack Obama appeared in a taped message, urging help for women who are abused, and a woman involved in a violent relationship talked about getting help. Katy Perry followed her to the stage and sang the ballad, "By the Grace of God."

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Racial turmoil was referenced a handful of times, once by Prince when he came onstage to present the Grammy for album of the year.

"Albums, remember those?" he said. "Like books and black lives, albums still matter."

In a moving closing segment, Beyonce sang the spiritual "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." Common collaborated with John Legend on "Glory," Common's song in the movie Selma, which referenced last summer's racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri.

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