Lady Gaga lays egg (really!) on Grammys red carpet

LOS ANGELES —The bleacher fans went gaga over Lady Gaga at Sunday's Grammy Awards, but then how often do you see someone arrive on the red carpet encased in an iridescent egg-shaped container carried by a gaggle of scantily clad men in gold.

"Gaga! Gaga!" the fans shouted as she passed by on her way inside Staples Center, even though it was impossible to tell what she was wearing and her face couldn't be clearly seen.

That wasn't the case with Nicki Minaj. She wore a short leopard print dress by Givenchy with the back of her hair dyed in a matching leopard pattern. The rest of her hair was done up in a towering blond beehive with a dark streak on the front.

"I love when people say, 'What was she wearing?' Wouldn't you rather be exciting than boring?" she said.

Cyndi Lauper found herself next to Minaj on the carpet and they compared notes.

"I love the outfit," Lauper said. "I don't have dos and don'ts. This is rock 'n roll, baby, you can do what you like."

Esperanza Spalding did just that. The 26-year-old jazz singer, composer and arranger wore a long green gown that she said reflected her personality.

"Bright, green and many layers," she said.

Spalding's friend, Janelle Monae, was wearing her favorite colors — black and white — in a tuxedo by Ralph Lauren and on her fingernails, nine of which were black and one white. She's known for her androgynous look, so don't expect to see her in any flowing dresses.

"Only if you come to my house," she said. "I wear all my long, beautiful, elegant gowns at home."

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber cannot be stopped.

The pop singer, who just released a 3D movie and has a highly anticipated Grammy Awards performance Sunday night, breezed by scores of reporters hoping to get a few moments with the 16-year-old phenom.

His parents did stop briefly, with his mother, Patricia Lynn Mallette, saying her son's rise to stardom "has been so unexpected and so quick."

Bieber was scheduled to share the stage during a performance Sunday night with his mentor, Usher.

He was also nominated in the Best New Artist category and is not only a fan favorite, but the artist many of his peers hoped to see.

Nicki Minaj called him "adorable and cute" and said she wished him well for his performance.

Disney teen star Selena Gomez, who is reportedly dating Bieber (but they won't confirm it), told The Associated Press she was excited for the show.

"I think everybody should be proud of him," she said.

Lady Antebellum

LOS ANGELES — A year ago, Lady Antebellum was celebrating its first Grammy win. A lot has changed since then for the country trio, which picked up two early awards on Sunday.

"We're a lot busier," singer Hillary Scott said. "We're just stronger than ever as a band and are trying to enjoy this ride. It's been amazing. We've been able to take our music all over the world."

As the group was walking the red carpet, they had already won two Grammys in the pre-show awards presentation: best country song for "Need You Now" and country performance by a duo or group with vocals.

"We get to go into the night already feeling like winners and it takes the pressure off a little bit," singer Charles Kelley said.

B.o.B

B.o.B., whose "Nothin' on You" with Bruno Mars scored big on the charts, called it a "straitjacket year. Definitely crazy."

The rapper endorsed one of the year's other big hitmakers — teen sensation Justin Bieber.

"Justin Bieber is my homie. He's cool," B.o.B. said. "He's got all the tools he needs to remain in the industry."

Bieber wasn't talking to reporters on the Grammy red carpet, but he was on everyone else's minds.

"I enjoyed the Bieb's movie. It's very sweet," comedian Kathy Griffin said. "It talks about his weeks of struggle. This is an artist who has really been at this for days. Weeks and weeks of struggle, so gosh, I am pulling for him. If only he could have a modicum of success."

Janelle Monae

First, Janelle Monae didn't get a Grammy nomination in the best new artist category. Then, her luggage got lost on the way to Los Angeles for Sunday's show.

The singer wasn't bitter, though.

"I started recording music in my apartment in my basement and the fact that I've made it this far, I'm just grateful," the Kansas native said. "My friend Esperanza Spalding, who I want people to know about, is nominated in the best new artist category and that's what it's about.

"It's about a movement of strong, positive, black female artists in today's music industry."

Monae received two nominations, including one for "Tightrope" with Big Boi. Prince has been one of Monae's biggest supporters and she shared his advice.

"It's just remaining an artist," she said. "That's your job and your responsibility to create and write songs that are uplifting, hopefully they inspire, and they bring people together. What he tells me is to just basically create your own box and run around in it."