Leonard Cohen wins posthumous Grammy Award for best rock performance

Leonard Cohen has posthumously won a Grammy Award for best rock performance.

The singer and songwriter, who died in November 2016, beat late musician Chris Cornell to win with You Want It Darker at the ceremony in New York City on Sunday.

His victory followed late Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher winning her first Grammy for her reading of her memoir The Princess Diarist.

Cohen's triumph was announced during the pre-televised ceremony at Madison Square Garden. Credit: PA

Cohen died in his sleep aged 82 in his Los Angeles home, his manager said at the time.

The Canadian singer, perhaps best known for writing the much-covered track Hallelujah, had been ill for a long time leading up to his death.

Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Cornell, who died aged 52 in May, was nominated for The Promise.

Cohen's triumph was announced during the pre-televised ceremony at Madison Square Garden.

The main show, hosted by James Corden, starts at 7.30pm local time, 12.30am on Monday in the UK.