3-D tribute to Jackson a hit

NEW YORK — In a mix of the mystical and gimmicky, Michael Jackson posthumously paid tribute to both Mother Earth and 3-D video on Sunday’s Grammy Awards telecast.

The occasion was a lifetime achievement award for Jackson from the Recording Academy.

But the much-awaited spectacle was the 3-D live-and-film number with the King of Pop heard performing his “Earth Song,” accompanied by on-stage stars as well as images from nature that had multitudes of Grammycast viewers peering through the red-and-blue- lensed 3-D glasses they scored beforehand from their local Target store.

This big event arrived about two-thirds into CBS’ three-hour live shindig from Los Angeles’ Staples Center.

It was introduced by Lionel Richie, who said the performance was meant by Jackson as a call to action against the destruction of Nature and animals by humans.

Through it all, Jackson reigned in photos across the sprawling panorama.

As Richie explained in his introduction, the performance piece was produced as a key element of Jackson’s planned comeback concerts in London in July 2009 — shows that never happened because of his June 25 death in Los Angeles.

Musicians to gather for ‘We Are the World’

For some Grammy guests, the musical celebration won’t end with Sunday’s awards. Many said they are planning to participate in a new take on the charity song “We Are the World” at a star-studded recording session today.

Among those set to perform on the revamped track: Jason Mraz, Akon, Bono, Wyclef Jean, Carlos Santana, Enrique Iglesias, Usher, Toni Braxton and Lady Gaga.

Quincy Jones announced last week that he planned to redo the 1985 hit to benefit earthquake recovery in Haiti.

Producer RedOne, who will also be working on the song, said being asked to participate is “the biggest honor a musician can ever do.”

“Having Quincy, our father of music ... and Lionel Richie asking me to contribute and help, I said of course, because this is not about me,” he said. “It’s about Haiti.”

Stars come out for Davis’ blowout

Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to Barbra Streisand in song, Mary J. Blige gave a gut-wrenching performance in honor of her musical mentor and Rihanna made more than a fashion statement as the stars aligned for Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy blowout.

Davis’ party is always a must for the music industry’s A-listers, and they were out in force at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for Saturday’s gala: Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, the Black Eyed Peas, Jane Fonda, Usher, Quincy Jones, Wyclef Jean, Akon, Carrie Underwood and more mingled together at the exclusive event.

Rihanna hung out with gal pal Katy Perry and Perry’s new fiance, comedian Russell Brand, for much of the evening. Her appearance was notable because it was after she and then-boyfriend Chris Brown attended the Davis party last year that Brown assaulted her.

This year, she partied with friends like Canadian rapper Drake as she wowed onlookers with an asymmetrical dress made of tulle, making her look like she was dressed in a cotton candy confection.

Onstage, there were performances from the likes of Peas, Blige, Ke$ha, Underwood, Maxwell, Harry Connick Jr., and Jamie Foxx. The Peas, who are up for six Grammys, performed their hit “Boom Boom Pow,” then Fergie was joined by Slash as she performed the Guns N’ Roses classic, “Sweet Child of Mine.”

A dream come true for singer Ke$ha

Ke$ha — who has the No. 1 song in the country with her dance groove “TiK ToK” — spent part of Saturday afternoon at the Grammys Styling Studio, picking out accessories and other fashions available for talent who are taking part of the show.

While she’s not up for any awards, the singer is presenting the best new artist category. Ke$ha’s debut album was released this month, and she hopes next year she’ll be at the Grammys for a different reason.

“It’s been a dream of mine to go to the Grammys. Now that I’m gonna be on the stage it’s pretty surreal, so I can only dream that maybe next year I can find my name in one of the categories,” she said.

And while she’s dominated the airwaves with her party girl anthem, she took a bit of offense — playfully, of course — when she was described as such on Saturday.

“Define party girl, because yeah, I’m a walking good time, but I’m not like some starlet who goes out, doesn’t wear underwear, gets a DUI,” said Ke$ha.

“I’m so not that girl. But I am like a walking good time, but I’m having a good time just walking around here. I feel like a more proper title for myself would be a dance commander,” she said.

Old timers are party poopers

Not everybody at the Grammys planned to party into the night. Some, like Alice Cooper, Richie Sambora and Ringo Starr planned to make it an early night.

Asked if he planned to party like a rock star, Cooper, 62, said, “Oh yeah. I’m going to have three or four Diet Cokes. I’m going to paint the town beige tonight.”

Starr, 69, expected to have a similarly low-key night.

“Oh man, I’ll be up ’til what, 11?” Starr said before the show.

Sambora brought his young daughter, Ava, and her friend to see him perform with Bon Jovi. But he said the Grammy party ends there.

“I’m taking the kids home to do homework, actually, after the show,” Sambora said. “So there’s my rock star moment.”

Big Easy in the spotlight

With a football team bound for the Super Bowl and some of its musicians taking home Grammys, the city of New Orleans and its fabled music scene is once again moving toward center stage.

Helping lead it there Sunday was trumpeter Irvin Mayfield Jr., who accepted the Grammy for best large jazz ensemble album on behalf of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

“First, I’d like to thank the city of New Orleans for being too great of a city to be drowned,” Mayfield said during the non-televised portion of the awards show.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mayfield said it is important to him that his hometown isn’t forgotten.

“My father was a victim of drowning from Hurricane Katrina,” he said. “The question for New Orleans is making the things count so that all the victims will not have been sacrificed in vain.”

Just before the televised portion of the show began, executive producer Ken Erlich came on stage with Green Day to recognize the band for performing with U2 at New Orleans’ Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.