But source close to the couple doesn’t shoot down rumors of trouble

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie weren’t trying to send any message about their relationship when they attended the Directors Guild Awards on Saturday.

“They aren’t paying any attention to the rumors about them (breaking up),” said a source who knows the couple. “They were always planning on attending.”

The couple skipped the red carpet and weren’t photographed together, but according to reports from People magazine, Jolie and Pitt were affectionate and stayed close to each other throughout the entire four-hour ceremony.

So should any of the Brangelina breakup rumors be taken seriously? The source didn’t exactly shoot down recent talk of trouble in paradise.

“I never say this, but it seems like something’s up,” the source said. “But they do have a big family, they both have projects they’re working on — any couple would be stressed. But, they’re a private couple, and when they’re ready, or if they feel the need to say something, they’ll do it themselves.”

Early Oscar prediction
I predicted a best director Golden Globe for Kathryn Bigelow, director of “The Hurt Locker.” I was a couple of shows early. Although the

Globe went to her ex-husband, James Cameron, for “Avatar,” Bigelow took home the big prize at the Director’s Guild Awards Saturday night. So it seems like a good time to go on the record with my prediction that Bigelow will take home an Oscar for her directing on March 7.

I caught up with him at the pre-Globes BAFTA tea, and complimented him on so deftly playing the role of a member of our armed forces — an act made all the more impressive when you learn he had no experience with the military before taking the role of an Army-trained bomb detonator.

“I never served, I really didn’t know that much about it,” said Renner, who was soft-spoken and totally humble. “Just spent lots of time on (military) bases before filming.”

The most memorable moment of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday may be the onstage appearance of Michael Jackson’s two eldest children to accept their father’s lifetime achievement award.

“To all his songs, his message was simple, love,” 12-year-old Prince Michael said. “We will continue to spread his message and help the world.”

With a voice that sounded more mature than his age, he then thanked “God for watching over us these last seven months and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support.”

Paris, 11, then spoke: “Daddy was supposed to be here. Daddy was going to perform last year. Thank you. We love you Daddy.”

Prince Michael and Paris, along with several cousins, wore black suits with red stripes on their pants, and red armbands.

The children appeared after a rousing performance of Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song,” with a recording of Jackson accompanied by live performances from Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson.

Grammy producers used the head-to-head competition between Beyonce and Taylor Swift to lure viewers to stay tuned through the three-and-a-half hour telecast.

Swift got the biggest Grammy of the night, album of the year, for “Fearless.”

“I just hope that you know how much this means to me,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Our families are freaking out in their living rooms.”

Swift also won best country album. She won four Grammys overall.

Beyonce won a pair of Grammys over Swift, including for best female pop vocal performance.

Beyonce carried home six Grammys, including one in the major category of song of the year. That honor, a songwriters’ award, was given to Beyonce for co-writing “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”

For the best female pop honor, won for “Halo,” the nervous singer thanked her family, “including my husband — I love you.” Beyonce is married to hip-hop star Jay-Z.

Alternative rock band Kings of Leon upset favorites Beyonce and Swift to win the record of the year Grammy for “Use Somebody.”

The win gave the Kings of Leon three Grammys out of four nominations this year, all thanks to last year’s “Only by the Night” album. The same album gave them three nominations last year, one of which they won.

“Use Somebody” lost out earlier in the show to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” for song of the year.

“The best thing about winning Grammys is really it’s the first time our family gets to see the success we’re having,” Kings lead singer Caleb Followill said backstage. “We’re getting my mom wasted.”

Other triple Grammy winners were The Black Eyed Peas and Jay-Z.

Winners also included Stephen Colbert, the Zac Brown Band and Green Day.

The Zac Brown Band won best new artist. Lady Gaga, considered by many to be this year’s biggest breakout act, was ruled ineligible because she had a song released and nominated last year.

Stephen Colbert won best comedy album for “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” Rap/sung collaboration went to Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West.

Green Day won best rock album.

“Now I’m going to do shots with Kings of Leon,” Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong said.

Lady Gaga, whose performance opened the show, won two Grammys presented in the pre-telecast. Her single “Poker Face” beat out songs by the Black Eyed Peas, Madonna and Britney Spears in the best dance recording category. Her CD “The Fame” also won a Grammy for best electronic/dance.

Attacker hid explosives underneath a black head-to-toe cloak, official says

BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber walking among Shiite pilgrims in northern Baghdad detonated an explosives belt on Monday, killing at least 54 people and wounding around 117, Iraqi officials said.

A police official said 18 women and 12 children were among the dead. A hospital official also confirmed the casualties. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

The bombing was the first major strike this year against pilgrims making their way to the southern city of Karbala to mark a Shiite holy day. It came as security official warned of a possible increase in attacks by insurgents using new tactics to bypass bomb-detection methods.

The bombing raises fears of an escalation of attacks as hundreds of thousands of Shiites head by Friday to the southern holy city of Karbala. They will mark the end of 40 days of mourning following the anniversary of the death Imam Hussein, a revered Shiite figure.

The bomber hid the explosives underneath an abaya — a black cloak worn from head to toe by women — as she joined a group of pilgrims on the outskirts of Baghdad’s Shiite-dominated neighborhood of Shaab, said Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Baghdad’s top military spokesman.

The bomber set off the blast as she lined up with other women to be searched by female security guards at a security checkpoint just inside a rest tent, al-Moussawi said.

After clearing the security check, the women pilgrims were served water and sherbet, a police official said.

‘Crying for help’
Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the minutes following the blast.

Raheem Kadhom, 35, was standing about 150 yards away when he says a huge fireball erupted among the pilgrims.

Pilgrims were “on the ground, covered in blood and crying for help,” he said. “Banners were all over the ground and covered in blood.”

The blast was so powerful it knocked some out of their slippers and shoes, which were scattered across the ground, Khadhom said.

Many ran to the aid of the pilgrims. Some put the wounded in cars, taking them to hospitals rather than wait for ambulances, Kadhom said.

Despite an overall decline in violence in Iraq, al-Qaida and other Sunni extremists have routinely targeted pilgrims in an attempt to stoke sectarian strife and weaken the Shiite-dominated government.

The vast numbers of pilgrims and the distances many of them must travel at predictable times of the year make it all but impossible to guarantee their safety against extremist groups. The pilgrims targeted Monday were walking from the northeast Diyala province and other areas north of Baghdad, police said.

Shortage of policewomen
During a pilgrimage last February, a female suicide bomber attacked a tent filled with women and children resting during the walk to Karbala, killing 40 people and wounding 60 others. A month before that, a suicide bomber dressed in women’s clothing and hiding among Iranian pilgrims killed more than three dozen people outside a mosque in Baghdad’s Shiite neighborhood of Kazimiyah.

Security forces were put on alert shortly after the attack, al-Moussawi said.

“We informed all checkpoints to be careful and to intensify the search procedures,” he said.

The nominations for the 52nd Grammy Awards are listed below, with winners italicized in bold and asterisked:

Album of the year

“I Am…Sasha Fierce,” Beyoncé
“The E.N.D.,” The Black Eyed Peas
“The Fame,” Lady Gaga
“Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King,” Dave Matthews Band
“Fearless,” Taylor Swift *

Record of the year

“Halo,” Beyoncé
“I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon *
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

Song of the year

“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga and RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Pretty Wings,” Hod David and Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé) *
“Use Somebody,” Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings of Leon)
“You Belong With Me,” Liz Rose and Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

Best new artist

Zac Brown Band *
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best female pop vocal performance

“Hometown Glory,” Adele
“Halo,” Beyoncé *
“Hot N Cold,” Katy Perry
“Sober,” Pink
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

Best rock album

“Black Ice,” AC/DC
“Live from Madison Square Garden,” Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
“21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day *
“Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King,” Dave Matthews Band
“No Line on the Horizon,” U2

Best rap/sung collaboration

“Ego,” Beyonce and Kanye West
“Knock You Down,” Keri Hilson, Kanye West and Ne-Yo
“Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna *
“I’m On a Boat,” The Lonely Island and T-Pain
“Dead and Gone,” T.I. and Justin Timberlake

Best country album

“The Foundation,” Zac Brown Band
“Twang,” George Strait
“Fearless,” Taylor Swift *
“Defying Gravity,” Keith Urban
“Call Me Crazy,” Lee Ann Womack

Best comedy album

“Back From the Dead,” Spinal Tap
“A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All,” Stephen Colbert *
“Internet Leaks,” Weird Al Yankovich
“My Weakness is Strong,” Patton Oswalt
“Suckin’ It for the Holidays,” Kathy Griffin
“Tall, Dark and Chicano,” Geroge Lopez

Other winners:

Best male pop vocal performance:
Jason Mraz, “Make It Mine”
Best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals:
The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”
Best pop collaboration with vocals:
Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, “Lucky”
Best pop vocal album:
The Black Eyed Peas, “The E.N.D.”
Best traditional pop vocal album:
Michael Buble, “Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden”

Best dance recording:
Lady Gaga, “Poker Face”
Best electronic/dance album:
Lady Gaga, “The Fame”

Best solo rock vocal performance:
Bruce Springsteen, “Working On A Dream”
Best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals:
Kings of Leon, “Use Somebody”

Best hard rock performance:
AC/DC, “War Machine”

Best rock song:
Kings of Leon, “Use Somebody”

Best alternative music album:
Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”

Best female R&B vocal performance:
Beyonce, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”

Best male R&B vocal performance:
Maxwell, “Pretty Wings”

Best R&B album:
Maxwell, “Blacksummers’ Night”

Best contemporary R&B album:
Beyonce, “I Am … Sasha Fierce”

Best R&B song:
Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”

Best rap solo performance:
Jay-Z, “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”

Best rap performance by a duo or group:
Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, “Crack A Bottle”

Best rap song:
Jeff Bhasker, Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson, songwriters, “Run This Town” (Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West)

Best rap album:
Eminem, “Relapse”

Best female country vocal performance:
Taylor Swift, “White Horse”

Best male country vocal performance:
Keith Urban, “Sweet Thing”

Best country performance by a duo or group with vocals:
Lady Antebellum, “I Run To You”

Best country collaboration with vocals:
Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis, “I Told You So”

Best country song:
Liz Rose and Taylor Swift, songwriters, “White Horse”

Pop star Beyonce was the big winner at the prestigious Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, winning six prizes.

Starting the night with 10 nominations, her awards included song of the year and best R&B song, both for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).

Twenty-year-old country star Taylor Swift picked up four prizes, including the coveted album of the year title.

The Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z and Kings of Leon all picked up three trophies each, while Lady GaGa and Eminem won two.

Beyonce has set a new record for the most awards won in a single year by a solo female, and takes her career tally to 16.

Her other awards this year included best contemporary R&B album, best R&B female vocal for Single Ladies and best traditional R&B performance for At Last, which she performed at President Obama’s inauguration.

She also won best pop vocal performance for Halo. Accepting that trophy, she said: “This has been such an amazing night for me and I’d like to thank the Grammys.

“I’d like to thank my family including my husband, I love you,” she added, referring to rapper Jay-Z.

But she lost out to Tennessee rock band Kings of Leon in the record of the year category.

Lady GaGa and Sir Elton John got dirty as they opened the ceremony

In a surprise result, the group’s song Use Somebody won that prize, also beating hits by Lady GaGa, Taylor Swift and The Black Eyed Peas.

The song had also earlier been named best rock song - triumphing over tracks by heavyweights like Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Green Day - as well as best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Michael Jackson’s children Paris and Prince accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the King of Pop, who died last June.

“Daddy was going to perform this year,” 11-year-old Paris told the audience. “He couldn’t perform last year. Thank you and we love you daddy.”

Their appearance followed a 3D tribute featuring Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson and Usher accompanying a recording of Jackson’s Earth Song.

The Black Eyed Peas won best short video for Boom Boom Pow and best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals for I Gotta Feeling.

And the group beat acts including Kelly Clarkson and Pink to win best pop vocal album for The END.

TOP GRAMMY AWARDS Album of the year - Taylor Swift (above), Fearless Record of the year - Kings of Leon, Use Somebody Song of the year - Beyonce, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) Best new artist - Zac Brown Band Best pop vocal album - Black Eyed Peas, The END

An emotional Taylor Swift won best country album for her second LP Fearless plus best country song and best female country vocal performance, both for the track White Horse.

Jay-Z’s track Run This Town, featuring Rihanna and Kanye West, was named best rap song and best rap/sung collaboration, while the rapper also picked up best rap solo performance for DOA (Death Of Auto-Tune).

Fellow rapper Eminem, meanwhile, won best rap album for Relapse and best rap performance by a duo or group for Crack A Bottle, his comeback collaboration with Dr Dre and 50 Cent.

Lady GaGa took two awards - best dance recording for Poker Face and best electronic/dance album for The Fame. But she missed out on the major prizes.

The outrageous newcomer also performed an elaborate routine that culminated with her playing piano opposite Sir Elton John.

Other winners included Indian composer AR Rahman, who won two trophies for his soundtrack to the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

Michael Jackson’s children Paris and Prince Michael gave a dignified speech

Film composer Michael Giacchino also won a pair, for best score soundtrack album and best instrumental composition for his work on the Pixar animation Up.

Neil Young won the first Grammy of his career, taking best art direction on a boxed or special limited edition package for Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972).

British artists have dominated the Grammys in the past couple of years. Last year, Robert PLant and Alison Krauss took top honours, with Coldplay, Adele, Duffy and Radiohead also doing well.

And in 2008, Amy Winehouse scooped five prizes. But this year, UK artists fared less well.

Rock veterans Judas Priest took home best metal performance and Jeff Beck won best rock instrumental.

Singer-songwriter Imogen Heap was awarded best engineered non-classical album, while the London Symphony Orchestra won best opera recording for Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd.

Official: Plane was handling traffic reports for Philly radio and TV station