With Adele‘s first performance back since her throat surgery, a highly anticipated performance by Taylor Swift, and L.L. Cool J playing the role of host, the 2012 Grammy Awards were already something that had everyone talking. But with the sudden and tragic death of Whitney Houston on Saturday afternoon, the tone had to drastically change. And while the usual celebration and lively performances could still be found at the awards show on Sunday night, they were definitely intermixed with some very somber tones.

After Bruce Springsteen opened the show with his lively rendition of “We Take Care of our Own,” LL Cool J stepped out onto the stage. Not wanting to waste a minute before paying his respects, he announced that he wanted to open the show with a prayer for Whitney Houston. It might be some time before anyone sees a stadium filled with the biggest celebrities to bow their heads in prayer at the same time again. None of it was lip service though; as the prayer continued and the camera spanned the crowd, many were seen wiping tears away for Whitney. The somber mood would be seen again throughout the night, but until then there were still some high notes to hit.

One of those was one of the most highly-anticipated moments of the evening, Adele’s performance — her first since September of last year, and since having Lasik surgery on her vocal chords. That voice was unmistakable though, as the sweet soulful notes of “Rolling in the Deep” filled the Staples Center. She looked a little bit terrified as the camera zoomed in on her belting out the powerful acoustic notes, but as the song grew to its powerful chorus, so did Adele’s confidence, and she was off and running. Throat surgery? What throat surgery? Adele brought down the house and Gwyneth Paltrow said it best when she introduced the star, “We’re so glad to have her back.”

Shortly after Adele’s comeback performance, Taylor Swift had one of her own. Oh, Swift has never gone anywhere, releasing her third studio album, Speak Now, last year. But she did get back at critics very clearly with her performance of “Mean,” in which she switched up the last line to now say, “Someday I’ll be singin’ this at the Grammy’s….and all you’re ever gonna’ be is mean.” Another huge performance that got everyone on their feet, and had Taylor once again looking around at her audience (this time huge A-listers instead of fans,) and seeming to be in awe that the applause was for her.

But the saddest moment was yet to come, and everyone was waiting for it. It came after the annual tribute to the biggest stars in music that had passed away over the year. It’s a tribute the Grammy’s prepares every year to pay their respect, but it did have a more personal feel this year with Whitney’s passing still so fresh. As the montage ended, with a picture of Ms. Houston closing it out, the crowd was silent and a spotlight appeared on the stage. There stood Jennifer Hudson, all on her own, for the memorial that everyone was waiting for. No pressure.

Jennifer Hudson didn’t show pressure. What she did show was an incredibly upset young woman, who was trying as best she could to hold it together so she could pay her respects to one of her idols. And she did it flawlessly. Belting out one of Whitney’s most recognizable songs, “I Will Always Love You,” Hudson changed the last line of the song singing instead, “Whitney, we will always love you.” The memorial, and the song, was kept short; but with not a dry eye in the house after Hudson sang, no one could have handled too much more of that.

To close out the awards, Nicki Minaj followed current trends by bringing an alter-ego onto stage with her to perform in an exorcism; an odd choice for a Grammy debut. And of course, to close out the show, the big award of the night – Album of the Year. Just like she did in every other category she was nominated in, Adele took home that trophy too.