Beatles widows Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison accepted a special Grammy award on behalf of the Fab Four to mark the 40th anniversary of their explosion onto the US music scene.
After a tribute by artists including Sting, the Beatles were given the President's Award in recognition of their appearance 40 years ago on the Ed Sullivan television variety show, the moment Beatlemania hit America.
The widows of John Lennon and Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison accepted the honour after a moving tribute to the musical group that changed the world after they arrived in the United States in February 1964.
"It's an honour to be here for George," Harrison, whose husband died of cancer in November 2001, told the star-studded audience at the 46th annual Grammy awards.
"Forty-one years ago George made a solo trip to the United States. On his return to England, he said: 'They have everything over there. Why do they need us?'"
But as it turned out, America did need the Beatles, she said, dubbing the quartet "mystical messengers of peace, love and higher consciousness." "The love you take is equal to the love you make. I love you, George," she said.
{{/usCountry}}But as it turned out, America did need the Beatles, she said, dubbing the quartet "mystical messengers of peace, love and higher consciousness." "The love you take is equal to the love you make. I love you, George," she said.
{{/usCountry}}A tearful Ono, 70, said if Lennon were still alive he would: "Say it again, 'come together, give peace a chance and love is all we need,'" she said echoing the words from one of the Liverpudlian pacifist's most famous songs.