Rihanna Cancels Grammy Performance, Chris Brown Investigated for Battery

Rihanna has canceled her performance at tonight's Grammy Awards, though details are sketchy on why the Barbadian singer had to pull out of the show. While producers scramble to fill her slot on the telecast (the latest rumors say Justin Timberlake or Al Green will fill in), the "Disturbia" singer's publicist issued this vague statement: "Rihanna is well. Thank you for concern and support."

Rihanna and boyfriend Chris Brown were spotted (and photographed) together at last night's Clive Davis pre-Grammy bash, where Whitney Houston made her return to the stage. This afternoon, unconfirmed rumors spread that Rihanna had been in a car accident. By evening, word broke that Rihanna would not be attending the Grammys, and shortly thereafter the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that Brown is under investigation for an alleged domestic battery that happened approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

According to People, Brown and an unidentified woman were involved in an argument in a vehicle that escalated after Brown and the woman exited the car. "The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker, according to police," People reports. The name of the victim has not been released, but the LAPD did confirm they received and responded to a 911 call about the incident.

Rihanna is up for three awards at this year's Grammys, including Best Dance Recording, and Brown has two nominations. When told about the cancellations on the red carpet, Snoop Dogg's wife Shante Broadus said her message to Brown was "We love you and get better." David Banner told Rolling Stone, "One situation doesn't define a man and I really want American to stop doing that to people. As humans, none of us is perfect."

Stay tuned to Rolling Stone's Grammy hub for all the latest reports and photos from music's big night.

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Song Stories

“(We're Not) The Jet Set”

George Jones and Tammy Wynette | 1973

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."

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