The most unforgettable Grammys performances

"Never wanted to be your weekend lover," sang Beyoncé as she joined Prince onstage for a tribute to Purple Rain. The two single-named stars sang a medley of cuts from the album interspersed with the Purple One's guitar solos and a few dance breaks from Beyoncé (who was clad in a feather-trimmed minidress designed by her mother Tina Knowles).

Triple-nominee Katy Perry started her performance in a poison green alien costume for "ET" before stripping down to a formfitting bodysuit to sing power anthem "Part of Me." The striking costume was a collaboration between Perry, stylist Johnny Wujek and designer Abigail Greydanus. "Inspired by the idea of a post-apocalyptic warrior with a futuristic touch to it, this latex outfit looked truly outstanding on Katy Perry," blogged Greydanus.

The Best New Artist nominee (wearing a tiered Oscar de la Renta halter gown) scaled the stage in a controversial performance of "Roman Holiday" that including levitation and a faux exorcism.

For his bravura staging of "Jesus Walks" (which was interspersed with snippets of gospel greats "I'll Take You There" and "I'll Fly Away"), Kanye West employed a cast that included John Legend, Mavis Staples, the Blind Boys of Alabama and a "church" full of singing parishioners. The dramatic ending? West rising above the chorus wearing angel wings.

Prior to hitting the stage, Lady Gaga made her way down the red carpet in a Hussein Chalayan-designed pod, allowing choreographer Laurieann Gibson to speak to performers. "She's incubating," she said. "She won't be born until her performance this evening." She emerged in a rubber Mugler by Nicole Formichetti ensemble to perform "Born This Way."

Cee Lo Green and Gwyneth Paltrow did not skimp on fashion when it came to their duet of "Forget You." Paltrow added Louboutin booties and Wilfredo Rosado feathered earrings to her Stella McCartney jumpsuit while Green worked with stylist Shawn Barton and costumer Maria Harper on his Elton John-inspired getup. "It's the lightest outfit ever," Barton told EW.com. "It was a jumpsuit, Velcro-ed in the front. The wings, he put those on like you would a backpack. The heaviest thing was maybe the headpiece. I would say that weighed about 12 pounds. The reaction from people was priceless because he didn't rehearse in the costume. Everyone else was rehearsing in their costumes, but he had on a T-shirt and flip flops. So when he walked out [in the costume], it was, 'Oh damn!' He owned it. Everyone literally stopped what they were doing and cheered."

Before being joined by Eminem, Rihanna sang "Love the Way You Lie, Part 2" accompanied by Maroon 5's Adam Levine. Her pansy-print gown was courtesy of Christian Dior haute couture.

Bollywood was the inspiration for Shakira and Wyclef Jean's gilded version of "Hips Don't Lie." The Colombian singer showed off her belly-dancing skills in a metallic bustier and matching skirt.

Teenaged mega-star Britney Spears began her performance with a version of "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" dressed in a full-length tutu and glittering pastel turtleneck. She made a Wizard of Oz-inspired segue into "…Baby One More Time," emerging in a red beaded jumpsuit with cutouts at the waist.

A blast of brass announced the entrance of James Brown following Usher's performance of "Caught Up." The 71-year-old performer showed off his slick moves to "Sex Machine" in a can't-miss-him fringed red suit.