Many Miguel fans thought he deserved more time to perform during this year's Grammy Awards telecast in Los Angeles.  Some even complained that instead of singing "Adorn" from the middle of audience at the Staples Center, Miguel should have been up on the main stage. 

But, Miguel tells Billboard that it was "genius" for Grammys executive producer Ken Ehrlich to put him and his special guest, Wiz Khalifa, in the aisle.  "I wanted to make an intimate thing but I had a bigger vision about the crowd," Miguel says.  "I got to tip my hat to Ken Ehrlich -- he really had the vision."

In the end, Miguel's performance won over some new fans, including pop singer Kelly Clarkson, who called his short set "the sexiest damn thing" she'd ever seen.  That compliment was just the cherry on top of an even bigger win: Miguel's Kaleidoscope Dream track "Adorn" won a Grammy for Best R&B Song, given out before the telecast.

The crooner says he learned the news before the big show.  "I found out in the car as we were pulling up to the red carpet.  It was an 'Oh, s**t' moment," he tells Billboard.  "I had my girl with me and it was like, 'How crazy is that? And I get to perform?' It was just a great feeling."

Next month, Miguel will open for Alicia Keys on her Girl on Fire tour.  The two have worked together before, and Alicia's voice appears on the Kaleidoscope Dream track "Where's the Fun in Forever."

"We had enough time to really appreciate and respect each other's integrity as musicians," Miguel tells Billboard.  "I really love her as an individual, and she's a light amongst a lot of the bulls**t in this whole thing."

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