British soul singer Sam Smith and R&B singer-producer Pharrell Williams led the early winners at Sunday's Grammy awards, while Katy Perry and President Barack Obama teamed up to take a stand against domestic violence at the music industry's top awards.

Minutes before Perry's performance of "By the Grace of God," Obama delivered a pointed speech in a video message urging artists attending the awards to help end domestic violence, saying "It's not OK and it has to stop."

Brooke Axtell, a survivor of domestic abuse, shared her personal story on stage, saying "authentic love does not silence, shame or abuse."