Best Parties of 2009

After the final chords had been struck at the 51st annual Grammy Awards, winners and just-happy-to-be-nominateds alike fanned out around Los Angeles to continue the celebration at various after-parties. "[The Grammys] is the event that you watch in your jammies, eating popcorn when you're a nine-year-old girl, and wish. I can't believe I'm here!" said a still-stunned Katy Perry, who swapped her sweeping Basil Soda gown for a sassier dress from Jenny Packham before making her way to the EMI bash, held at SLS in the Beverly Hills Hotel.

-With reporting by Brantley Bardin, Meg Hemphill, Kwala Mandel, Andrea Simpson and Lindzi Scharf

Rihanna

helped the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am and Taboo start Grammy weekend off on a high note at the 5th annual Peapod Foundation concert, presented by Adobe Youth Voices. Once inside the Conga Room at L.A.'s Nokia Theatre, guests were treated to a performance by the Peas-with special appearances by Lupe Fiasco, Nikka Costa and Boys II Men-to benefit the foundation, which provides music and arts education to children around the world.

-With reporting by Andrea Simpson

Guests like Estelle, Kanye West and Duffy took over Wolfgang's Steakhouse for a post-show dance party, hosted by the House of Hype, Island Def Jam and Antonio "L.A." Reid. "I'm wearing a custom-made Tory Burch dress. The one I was wearing earlier was heavy I said, 'I'm not wearing this to any clubs!'" said Estelle, who celebrated her first Grammy appearance by kicking up her Halston heels to tunes spun by DJ Clinton Sparks.

Katherine McPhee

joined Akon and Colbie Callat to soak up the laid back vibe at the Universal Motown Records Group post-Grammy party, held at Whiskey Blue.

Grammy presenter Kate Beckinsale headed to the Xbox 360 lounge backstage at the Staples Center, where she picked up items from Gunnar optics, Affliction apparel and CHI beauty products. Beckinsale also jammed with daughter Lily Sheen at the Gibson Guitar booth.

Taylor Swift

(in Colette Dinnigan) and Miley Cyrus (in Roberto Cavalli) were among the up and comers who helped salute the music industry's biggest icons at Clive Davis' 2009 pre-Grammy bash, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. "I just decided what I'm going to wear tomorrow," Swift said, before joining Rihanna, Sheryl Crow and Duffy for a late-night performance by Whitney Houston. "I'm automatically attracted to sparkly dresses, but it's not sparkly. Can you believe it?"

"Rock 'n roll rocks!" said Carrie Underwood, stating the obvious at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy bash. Underwood showed off her inner rocker chick in a sequined Pamella Roland mini-dress. "I feel like I need to pull it down a little bit, but it’s fun," laughed the country queen.

Band of brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas-known collectively as The Jonas Brothers-created a very valuable auction item when they signed a guitar for the Grammy Awards MusiCares program backstage at the Staples Center.

Faith Hill

and Jennifer Hudson were among the all-star line-up of musicians who helped pay tribute to Neil Diamond during the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute in Los Angeles. While Hudson belted out a cover of Diamond's "Holly Holy," Hill shared a slow dance with the music legend during a duet of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."

"It's Herve Leger," said Grammy nominee Leona Lewis as she showed off her figure-hugging dress and Kenneth Cole clutch at Timbaland's pre-Grammy launch party, hosted by Verizon and BlackBerry. Once inside Hollywood hot spot Boulevard 3, Lewis joined Paris Hilton, Chris Brown and Andrea Bowen to rock out to performances by Timbaland and Rihanna.