LOS ANGELES -- Joni Mitchell almost quit the music business. TLC says they are broke. Shania Twain won't tour for a year.

Those are some of the revelations and true confessions heard backstage at Wednesday night's 38th annual Grammy awards.

Among those not backstage and chatting was the most sought-after winner - Alanis Morissette - who was "too tired" to do any interviews.

"She's overwhelmed," explained Glen Ballard, Ms. Morissette's producer, who called his writing partner "the most remarkably self-possessed 21-year-old I've ever met."

Ballard said it was significant the traditionally out-of-touch Grammy voters named "Jagged Little Pill" album of the year.

"The honesty we presented the album with has found resonance out in the culture. I guess people were hungry for something that was honest, real, and not too polished."

Grammy voters rediscovered the folk singer that Ms. Morissette has cited as one of her influences - Joni Mitchell. In perhaps the biggest surprise in Grammy history, Ms. Mitchell's "Turbulent Indigo" won best pop album, beating out zillion-selling artists like Mariah Carey, Madonna and the Eagles for the award. The album also won best recording package.

"I've done a lot of good work and never been even nominated for it. Was it the sympathy vote?" Ms. Mitchell said with a laugh.

And she surprised interviewers when she said two years ago she planned to quit the music business, because it was giving her bad dreams.

"I was fed up. I wanted out. I was having nightmares that snakes were flying through the air at me. What was keeping them buoyant was CDs, albums and records. It was pretty clear to me I loathe this business," Ms. Mitchell said. "So, I called a meeting of Warner Brothers and told them my nightmare. I said, 'I don't mind being a sharecropper, but I won't be a slave.' They turned out to be some decent guys and we worked it out."

Other backstage goings on:

Best excuse: Blues Traveler's John Popper explained half the band missed accepting its first Grammy for best rock performance because "the guys stepped outside to catch a smoke."

Worst backstage bankruptcy: TLC members stunned interviewers when they said they were broke. The stormy trio won two Grammys, but confessed it was bittersweet because "we are broke as broke can be," according to Rozanda "Chili" Thomas.

The women offered few details of their money troubles except to say it happened to Bo Diddley in the '50s, and it's happening to them in the '90s.

"I can't go into everything now, but trust me, you can sell 10 million albums and be broke if you have greedy people behind you," said Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes.

Best next project: Kenneth "Babyface" Edmunds, the Indianapolis native who has worked with practically every major name in R&B, was named producer of the year. When asked if there's anyone he would like to work with but hasn't, he said, "If Elvis is still alive, give me a call."

Oh Canada?: With Canadians Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain big Grammy winners, some reporters tried to put a Canadian spin on the show. The winners weren't buying it. "I cross the border so much I hardly notice. I'm an artist, not a chauvinist," said Ms. Mitchell.

Worst wait for a tour: Some cynical critics are whispering that country music's newest sensation - Shania Twain - is a studio project, not capable vocally of pulling off a live show. But Ms. Twain explained she won't tour for at least a year, because she doesn't have enough well-known songs to sing. "You can't expect your show to sell your music. You should expect your music has to sell your show," Ms. Twain said.

Best little-known winners: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller - perhaps the greatest pop songwriting duo ever - got their first nomination and won their first Grammy. The duo that created the Philadelphia doo-wop sound won best musical show album with "Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller." The songs are their seminal hits from the late '50s and early '60s.

Biggest jerks: Pearl Jam refused interviews after winning best hard rock performance. Eddie Vedder said he didn't think the award meant anything. So, why bother to show up?