One of the toughest things about working in the press room is navigating 20 things at once. It was one of those moments when Green Day was being ushered back to talk to us at the exact second Michael Jackson’s kids were taking the stage. So, I didn’t catch anything Green Day said during their exceptionally brief appearance (though I can tell you that Billie Joe is very small and very thin).

But some other highlights from backstage visitors:

—Alice Cooper, looking every bit the rock star in a long, black conductor’s coat and ruffled white shirt, said he’s a fan of fellow performance artist Lady Gaga. “She sang with Elton and nailed it. I think she proved her point tonight. I love everything about what she’s doing; she’s going to be around for as long as she wants to be.“

—Keith Urban namechecked John Fogerty as the artist he’d most like to work with. “He sounds exactly like he did in Creedence. I feel a real brotherhood with him for some reason—maybe it’s that guitar/singer thing. But I’d love to do something with him.“

—Pink, wrapped so tight in her mermaid-like dress she had to hop onto the backstage platform, said that after touring for a year and half, she was going to “go home, cook and get fat.“ On her way out of the room, she called back to the press corps, “Get some beer!“

—Zac Brown took the opportunity to say thanks to one more group—radio. “I forgot to thank country radio for helping us, because people have been connecting with our songs.“ Brown, in his knit cap and surrounded by his large band, said it was an “amazing” feeling to not only perform at the Grammys, but to win, something the group wasn’t expecting.

The ladies’ run at domination ended when Kings of Leon won Record of the Year for their inexplicably popular “Use Somebody.“ Charmingly, Caleb Followill, in true scuzzy rocker form, told the audience that he was a little drunk.

A few minutes later, when Green Day bested the Dave Matthews Band and U2 (now officially unloved by Grammy for “No Line on the Horizon”) for “21st Century Breakdown” (Best Rock Album), singer Billie Joe Armstrong capped his acceptance speech by announcing he was off to do shots with KOL.

So far, the show has been an impressive entertainment spectacle, from those metallic robot people roaming the stage during The Black Eyed Peas’ crackerjack double punch of “Imma Be” and “I Gotta Feeling” to Pink’s aerial prowess.So why not have a few rockers to smudge up the joint?

Beyonce’s performance of “If I Were a Boy,“ the best song on the very strong “I Am…Sasha Fierce,“ and Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,“ might be my favorite Grammy performance of the past decade.

Talk about fierce. And if anyone can effortlessly teeter between righteous rage and pent-up hurt, it’s Beyonce.

Didn’t really need the crotch grab, though. One Michael Jackson tribute tonight will be enough.

For more than a decade, Billy Joel and Elton John have toured together on what they’ve dubbed the “Face 2 Face” tour.

After tonight’s opening with the ever-entertaining Lady Gaga and her soulmate in sequins, Elton John, I think if Joel ever gets tired, John has found himself a new tour mate.

Mashing her “Speechless” with his “Your Song” was surprisingly entertaining, and, say what you will about pop’s newest tart, she does know how to sing, which is more than can be said for many of her peers.

Besides, anyone who can not only pull off a green butterfly leotard and talk Elton into wearing a matching glitter mask has to at least be admired for her chutzpah.

Jason Mraz won his first-ever Grammys in back-to-back categories, for “Make it Mine” and “Lucky,“ his duet with Colbie Caillat.

“I really wanted to make something that sounded classic,“ Mraz said backstage. “I wrote so many different versions of this song it was ridiculous until I scrapped it all and then sent it to Colbie. The whole song was an email collaboration ... none of our labels were into the idea.“

Lamb of God couldn’t overcome the veterans in Judas Priest, though, whose “Dissident Aggressor” beat LOG’s “Set to Fail.“

“We are extremely happy for Judas Priest, a band that helped define and create the music we play. There is no one more deserving,“ LOG’s drummer, Chris Adler, texted soon after the award was presented.
Photo: Scott Kirkland

So Beyonce is now four-for-four, including besting Petersburg’s Trey Songz for Best Contemporary R&B album. No worries, Trey - it will be almost impossible for anyone to beat Beyonce tonight…except maybe Taylor Swift.

Speaking of our local folks, I’m told that Jason Mraz’s dad, Tom, was recently interviewed on the red carpet during E!‘s pre-show festivities and gave a shout-out to Mechanicsville. That’s surely a first.

A handsome Maxwell just choked back tears while accepting his first-ever Grammy for “Pretty Wings” (Best Male R&B Vocal)—“Please excuse my emotional craziness - it’s my first Grammy,“ he said, cradling the trophy.

Also, Miss Beyonce, up for 10 awards tonight, has already won the first three she’s been nominated for—all for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).“

My photographer buddy—and Richmonder!—Scott Kirkland just reported from the red carpet that Snookie and The Situation are here. Uh, why, exactly?

It’s going to be quite a catfight by the end of the night.

Taylor Swift, up for eight awards, already won her first two, for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song (both for “White Horse”). Though most major artists bypass the pre-show in order to spend more time primping for the televised portion, Swift wasn’t about to miss going onstage to claim her first-ever Grammys, and loped onstage like the excited youngster that she is.

Lady Gaga, meanwhile, surely has plenty of primping to do to prepare for that show-opener with Elton John, and skipped the pre-show. But, she’s won two of her five nominated categories, for Best Dance Recording (“Poker Face”) and Best Electronic/Dance Album (“The Fame”). She’ll compete tonight against Swift for Best Album, Song and Record of the Year.

After his title song from “The Wrestler” inexplicably failed to win an Oscar nod last year, many expected Springsteen to be redeemed by the academy that specializes in music—and certainly loves its veterans.

But, during the Grammy pre-telecast, during which 100 of the 109 awards will be distributed, Bruce was bested in the Best Song for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media by last year’s Oscar-winner, “Jai Ho,“ from “Slumdog Millionaire.“ It it’s any consolation Bruce fans, Karen O was also ignored for her excellent contribution to the “Where the Wild Things Are” soundtrack.

If you’re confused as to how a song that won an Oscar in 2009 could win a Grammy in 2010, it’s all about eligibility deadlines and, in some cases, such as this, the timing works out so a song or group can double-dip.

Springsteen later won Best Solo Rock Vocal for “Working on a Dream.“

But if you’re an “Up” fan, the soundtrack won for Best Score Soundtrack and the lovely “Married Life” for Best Instrumental.