Rihanna picked up an early 2011 Grammy. The singer took home the award for Best Dance Recording for 'Only Girl (In the World).' The song is featured on her fifth album 'Loud,' released in November. The single, however, beat the Grammy nominations cut off date (Sept. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010) when it was released in early September in anticipation of the album.

"CONGRATULATIONS !!!! We won a Grammy for BEST DANCE RECORDING!!!Only ho in the woooorrrrrlllldddd!!!!" Rihanna tweeted after the win. This is Rihanna's third trophy. She previously won twice in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her feature on Jay-Z's 'Run This Town' in 2009, and her hit single 'Umbrella' in 2007. Rihanna is scheduled to perform twice tonight, with Eminem and Drake, despite fighting laryngitis and bronchitis earlier this week, and is up for another three awards.

Other early winners include reggae singer Buju Banton. Banton took home the Best Reggae Album award for 'Before the Dawn.' He begins his retrial for a federal drug trafficking charge on Monday. La Roux won for Best Electronic/Dance Album and Michael Buble took home the award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for 'Crazy Love.'

Stay tuned for more coverage from the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards on TheBoomBox.com



Watch Rihanna on AOL Sessions

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