Pharrell added some drama to his exuberant hit “Happy.” During his performance, his dancers wore hoodies and raised their hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture as a nod to protesters in Ferguson, Missouri.
Blue-eyed soul singer Sam Smith was the star of the night, taking home four awards for best new artist, song of the year and record of the year for his tantalizing hit “Stay With Me” off his debut album, “In the Lonely Hour.” He also took the stage with Mary J. Blige to perform the track, and later gave a shoutout to the heartbreaker who inspired the album.
Beyoncé — not Ledisi — helped close out the night with a moving rendition of the gospel standard, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” Flanked by black male singers dressed in white and standing in a “hands up, don’t shoot” pose, the singer’s words and gestures easily made for the night’s most powerful moment. The singer also took home three awards for her self-titled album.