Tributes to Whitney Houston helped Sunday's 54th Annual Grammy Awards draw more than 39 million viewers, the second-largest audience ever for the show, according to preliminary numbers.

The show, which aired on CBS, was the most-watched since 1984, when Michael Jackson won a record-setting eight awards.

Also read: Grammys Honor Whitney Houston: 'We've Had a Death in Our Family'

It was up more than 40 percent over last year's ceremony in the ratings, scoring a 14.1 in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic, according to the preliminary numbers.

That would match the highest rating since the 14.2 in 1990, when Bonnie Raitt led with four awards. (1990 was also the year Milli Vanilli won the Best New Artist Award, which was revoked when it was revealed that the duo had not sung on their album.)

The Grammys also had a 14.1 in 1993, when Eric Clapton dominated with six awards.

Before the Grammys, 60 Minutes at 7 p.m. aired an interview with Adele (who went on to receive six Grammys) that scored a 2.9/8 and 14.5 million total viewers. It was up 93 percent in the demo from the last 60 Minutes original airing two weeks ago. CBS was easily the highest-rated and most-watched network, averaging an 11.5/27 in the demo and 34.5 million viewers.

ABC drew the second-highest ratings of the night, but dropped off dramatically from CBS's numbers. America's Funniest Home Videos at 7 enjoyed a modest boost with a 2.0/5 in the demo and 7.7 million total viewers, while Once Upon a Tim was down 14 percent from its most recent original airing two weeks ago with a 3.0/7 in the demo and 8.6 million total viewers. Desperate Housewives at 9 slid to a series low, dropping 31 percent to a 1.8/4 in the demo and drawing 6.3 million total viewers, while Pan Am closed out the night at 10 with a 42 percent nosedive from its last original airing three weeks ago, dropping to a series low of 0.7/2 in the demo and 2.6 million total viewers. Overall, ABC averaged a 1.9/4 in the demo and 6.4 million total viewers.

Fox ran a Bob's Burgers repeat at 7, followed by The Cleveland Show at 7:30, which posted a 1.2/3 in the demo and 2.7 million total viewers. The Simpsons at 8 drew a 2.0/5 in the demo and 4.3 million total viewers, while Napoleon Dynamite at 8:30 received a 1.7/4 in the demo and 3.8 million total viewers. Family Guy at 9 took a 2.5/6 in the demo and 4.9 million total viewers, while American Dad finished the night at 9:30 with a 1.7/4 in the demo and 3.5 million total viewers. The network was third in ratings and fourth in viewers, averaging a 1.7/4 and 3.6 million.

On NBC, Dateline from 7 to 9 grew 33 percent from its last original airing five weeks ago, posting a 1.6/4 in the demo and 6.7 million total viewers, while Fear Factor from 9 to 11 dropped 35 percent from its most recent telecast on Jan. 9, hitting a series low in the demo with a 1.5/3, with 3.7 million total viewers. NBC was fourth in ratings and third in viewers with a 1.5/4 and 5.3 million.

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