The ghastly Grammys

Madonna at her most toe-curling. Rihanna as a loo roll holder. It’s the ...

sHE’s long lost the ability to shock — three decades of relentlessly provocative behaviour have seen to that.

But at the gruesome Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on sunday, Madonna showed that she can still hog the limelight. Now 56, she strode the red carpet tightly laced into a Givenchy burlesque corset with a tiny Wild West style pelmet skirt — a sort of Granny Get Your Gun. And she just couldn’t resist flipping this skywards, to reveal an expanse of buttock.

More shock-at-all- costs antics followed on stage, this time in red as she performed an uninhibited simulation of sexual desire with a troupe of muscular young dancers in masks and horns.

If that wasn’t enough, her manager later tweeted a rather unbecoming picture of her lying on her back as two people adjusted her boots. Another picture of Madonna alongside the dewy young Taylor swift also did her few favours.

But then, Madonna certainly wasn’t the only show- off at America’s biggest annual music awards. such were the garish goings-on that the clothes threatened to eclipse the antics and awards on stage, where President Obama endorsed a message about standing up against domestic violence, Jessie J and Tom Jones struggled through an awkward duet, and British singer sam smith collected four trophies.

But then as Madonna’s long life in the music industry demonstrates — her new single is her 79th — perhaps it’s staying in the spotlight that really counts.

Country poppet Taylor Swift looked gorgeous in this teal gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab — but could have looked classy, too, if it wasn’t for the high-cut front At 77, Jane Fonda still likes to shock and chose a super-bright, emerald green Balmain...

This sheer, backless, beaded gown by Zuhair Murad ensured we saw quite a bit of Katy Perry — along with her new purple hair Eccentric singer Cee Lo Green brought his Pomeranian puppy Zu to a Grammys party as his date. The dog wore a tux to match his,...

This huge, flamingo pink dress worn by popstar Rihanna — not known for covering up — was designed by Italian Giambattista Valli and cost £15,000. But some said it looked less haute couture and more like a loo roll dolly A dressing gown/evening gown...

No stranger to the flashy and trashy, Miley Cyrus flaunts some flesh in this black cut-out dress by rising designer Alexandre Vauthier

Sir Paul McCartney was captured by cameras ‘dad dancing’ to veteran band ELO. He was so embarrassed he sat down and was patted consolingly by wife Nancy

Borderline: A tweet of Madonna having her boots removed, above, and her buttock flashing antics on the red carpet Rita Ora attended the same Grammys party as ex-lover Calvin Harris — but avoided him. The DJ showed up with model Aarika Wolf, while Rita...