LOS ANGELES – Mariah Carey ended her 16-year Grammy drought, but U2 smashed her comeback queen dreams by snatching five trophies Wednesday, including song and album of the year.

Carey, one of the best-selling artists of all time, hadn’t won a Grammy since her first two as a fresh-faced ingenue in 1990. On Wednesday, she was nominated for eight and won three in the pre-telecast ceremony. No woman had ever won more than five in one night.

But Carey was shut out through the entire televised portion, losing twice to U2, once to Green Day for record of the year and once to former American Idol Kelly Clarkson for best female pop vocal performance.

“If you think this is going to go to our head, it’s too late,” Bono said after the group captured their 19th Grammy.

Kelly Clarkson, who also won best pop album, also helped steal some of Carey’s spotlight.

“I’m sorry I’m crying again on national television,” said Clarkson, tearful and shaking as she held her first Grammy. “Thank you so much; you have no idea what this means to me.”

Carey was considered the year’s comeback queen, having overcome personal difficulties and a career slump of a few years ago to emerge in 2005 with the most popular album of the year.

But Carey’s comeback was upstaged – along with everything else – by the appearance of Sly Stone, the mercurial, psychedelic pioneer who disappeared from the music scene decades ago and hadn’t performed in public since 1993.

Toward the end of a sizzling all-star tribute, Stone emerged onstage sporting a tall blond Mohawk and breathed new life into one of his biggest smashes, “I Want To Take You Higher.” Though the tribute was planned, many didn’t expect Stone – who hasn’t performed in public in years – to show up.

Keith Urban was answering questions backstage when Stone’s performance began playing on a nearby monitor, and he had to stop talking.

“I think we just got upstaged,” Urban said, amazed. “Everything pales in comparison.”

Stone’s performance was one of the many that upstaged the actual awards, but there were some actually given out during the telecast.

U2 won for best rock album for “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.”