At this year’s Grammy Awards, the music industry mourned the loss of beloved pop music icon Whitney Houston and welcomed the success of rising pop sensation Adele.

“We have had a death in the family,” began host LL Cool J, who then led the audience in prayer for Whitney Houston.

The 48-year-old singer’s tragic passing was a lingering theme throughout the show, slightly dampening the overall mood of the evening. Jennifer Hudson sang tribute to Houston with a performance of “I Will Always Love You,” while other musicians paid her homage from the stage.

Adele Adkins was recognized for her talent and hard work with 6 Grammys, winning Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for “21,” Record Of The Year for “Rolling in the Deep,” Song Of The Year and Best Short Form Music Video for “Rolling In The Deep,” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You.” Adele tied Beyoncé for most awards for a female artist in one night.

The awards ceremony marked Adele’s return to the stage after a benign polyp in her vocal cords ruptured last year, cutting her album tour short and jeopardizing her career. Adele underwent laser surgery to remove the polyp, which prevented her from performing during the time her popularity was spiking.

Adele’s powerful performance of “Rolling In The Deep” validated her many wins that night and left the audience on their feet cheering while she stood looking out at the crowd of both fans and peers, visibly moved by their appreciation for her.

Other winners include new electronic dance artist Skrillex with three awards, including Best Dance/Electronica Album and Best Dance Recording.

Kanye West took home four awards, winning Best Rap Performance with Jay-Z for their collaborative song “Otis.”

This year the Grammys recognized the great contemporary musicians with awards and commemorated the greats from the past with performances by Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Glen Campbell and The Beach Boys (who made a historic reunion for the first time in 50 years.)

The 2012 Grammy Awards was truly a celebration of excellence in music new and old, and many talented artists won awards for their exceptional work last year. But this year was also about recognizing the musicians who left their mark on the world whether or not they’re still around to see it.