Grammy Backstage: Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna

Rihanna is starting to get jinxed by the Grammys. Last night, she and her assistant tried to get to their floor seats at the Staples Center at the start of the show. But the show had just begun, and the security guards weren’t letting anyone down from individual gate entrances. So Rihanna had to wait and watch Elton John and Lady Gaga on’a screen, just like regular people. She craned her neck back to catch the action as a crowd pressed up against her. What were the guards thinking? Not much, apparently. Also in our little crowd: George Clinton, the legendary creator of funk…

…Likewise, outside the Staples, coming up the red carpet, Usher had to show his ticket to get in. I mean, hilarious…

PHOTO GALLERY: The 52nd Grammys

…Santana’s new album will feature a dozen or so famous’guest vocalists…So, too, will Slash’s new album…

…Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony left the Grammys early. I asked her about her recent comment in Spanish about Sarah Palin. “It was just a joke!” she said, laughing. Whatever: It was the best thing she ever did…

…Mary J. Blige startled Clive Davis’ audience on Saturday night when she yelled at the backing band mid-performance. But in chatting with her last night, I do think that Mary J. had no idea what she was doing — she goes into something of a trance on stage. “I didn’t know what was happening,” she told me very sincerely. She’d already forgotten about it. For his part, musical director Greg Philliganes was ok with it. “She was right,” he said. Mary J. also told me that during her blistering performance of “I See Colors,” she does see them. “I didn’t know where I was,” she said. Wow!…

…The legendary and beloved Leonard Cohen was not at last night’s show. But he did win a Lifetime Achievement Award. And his manager told me he’s working on’new material for a new recording…

…Elton John will not be part of “We Are the World” today because he’s in the studio recording with Leon Russell. However: Elton John Aids Foundation has donated $200,000 to’Haiti relief, and more’may be coming. The Foundation may have lost more than dozen volunteers in the earthquake…

…Beyonce and Jay Z have seven foot bodyguards who push everyone out of the way, even when Beyonce says, “That’s all right” about a person she knows who’s trying to talk to her. They also had a little boy with them…

…What color tux was Usher wearing? “Taupe, I think,” he said as we walked from the red carpet to the stage entrance. Usher’s working on a new album, and getting back on track post-divorce. He’s part of today’s “We Are the World” recording, too…

…Justin Bieber is a child, but fame has gone to his head. He doesn’t sign autographs and is not nice to adults. The 15-year-old should be sent to his room until he is set straight…