GRAMMYS' SOUR NOTE Adele, Carrie Underwood fail to impress at show

The Grammy Awards were filled with energetic performances from A-listers, but some were better received than others.

Powerhouse vocalists Adele and Carrie Underwood were heavily criticized on social media for their performances.

I like country music, I like both of these artists. This performance is the worst & it hurts. #Grammys2016

— Megan Gil (@megsg19) February 16, 2016

Adele is all over the map with these notes. I feel like she's going to pass out and fall off the stage. Security! #Grammys

— David Friend (@dj_friend) February 16, 2016

But Ellie Goulding and Andra Day impressed viewers.

This performance is absolutely amazing @elliegoulding @AndraDayMusic #GRAMMYs

— samantha (@samsinopoli) February 16, 2016

Meanwhile, other stars had a much better night. The big award of the night for record of the year went to "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, Meghan Trainor won new artist of the year and album of the year went to Taylor Swift for "1989."

"Thank you to the Grammys, I love you so much," said a teary-eyed Trainor, who also thanked her parents and Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid.

The show took a tu for the serious when Kendrick Lamar took the stage in handcuffs for a performance that received a standing ovation. Lamar started his performance Monday appearing beaten, in handcuffs, with chains around his hands and a bruise on his eyes. He went on to fuse rap, jazz, reggae and African sounds for a commanding performance as he rapped "The Blacker the Berry" and the Grammy-nominated "Alright" passionately. He ended with a map of Africa, and the city of Compton imprinted in it. He was also the first artist to take home an award aounced on the live show for best rap album for "To Pimp A Butterfly."

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure...this is for hip hop...we will live forever," Lamar said as he accepted his award.

Taylor Swift was first to belt it out in a sequin jumpsuit for her performance of "Out of the Woods," departing from her red carpet attire, which had featured a tiny coral orange top.

By the time she took the stage Monday, Swift had already won two Grammys during the show's pre-telecast.

Host LL Cool J followed Swift's performance with a powerful message about music. "With all that divides us today, our shared love of music unites us, all of us," he aounced.

The Eagles' Gle Frey and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire received touching tributes from longtime friends at the Grammy Awards, while Rihaa pulled out of the awards show.

Stevie Wonder, joined with Grammy-wiing a capella group Pentatonix, sang "That's the Way of the World" in honor of White, while members of the Eagles and Jackson Browne sang "Take It Easy" for Frey at the Staples Center.

White died on Feb. 4 and Frey died on Jan. 18. Natalie Cole will also be remembered during the telecast, while Lady Gaga is set to pay tribute to David Bowie.

Rihaa's representative said in a statement that the singer couldn't perform at the show due to doctor's orders.

"After Grammy rehearsal today, Rihaa's doctor put her on vocal rest for 48 hours because she was at risk of hemorrhaging her vocal chords. The antibiotics she has been on for three days did not kill the infection adequately therefore she caot perform safely," the statement read.

Ed Sheeran walked away with one of the night's top honors, song of the year for "Thinking Out Loud."

"We wrote it on a couch in my house," he said of his hit song, which also won him best pop solo performance.

It was the first time Sheeran won a Grammy; and the night marked first wins for Justin Bieber, the Weeknd, Chris Stapleton, Pitbull and Alabama Shakes.

The Weeknd, who won two awards in the pre-telecast, performed in a cube that was brightly lit for "Can't Feel My Face" until he switched to piano-tinged version of his upbeat hit "In the Night."

Stapleton, who has written for dozens of country acts, won best country album for "Traveller."

"This is something you never ever dream of so I'm super grateful for it," he said.

Stapleton walked in with four nominations, including album of the year, but lost best country song to "Girl Crush." Little Big Town eaed a standing ovation when they performed the hit song.

Meanwhile, many of the big awards of the night are still to come.

"Girl Crush" won songwriters Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKea best country song and Little Big Town best country duo/group performance.

Swift's and Sheeran's songs are up for record of the year, along with "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, the Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face," and D'Angelo and the Vanguard's "Really Love."

Adele released her third album, "25" — which has sold 8 million units in the United States — after Grammy eligibility. It will qualify for awards at the 2017 ceremony.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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