LOS ANGELES
Rapper Lil Wayne was showered with a leading eight Grammy nominations - including “Tha Carter III” for album of the year - during a live concert special designed to provide a grander showcase for music’s top awards show.
Following close behind in the overall nomination race was Coldplay, with seven. Their “Viva La Vida” was also nominated for album of the year. Others in that top category included Radiohead (“In Rainbows”), Ne-Yo (“Year of the Gentleman”), and Robert Plant with Alison Krauss (“Raising Sand”).
In the other coveted category for record of the year, the nominees were British singer Adele for “Chasing Pavement”; M.I.A for “Paper Planes”; Coldplay for their CD’s title track; Leona Lewis for “Bleeding Love”; and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for “Please Read the Letter.”
Other multiple nominees included Kanye West, Jay-Z and Ne-Yo, who each had six.
The Recording Academy typically has announced their nominations like most other top awards shows, during a morning news conference. But in an era when awards shows are as commonplace as reality shows, even the top-tier events are finding it hard to stand out.
So they put on the prime-time event, which opened with past Grammy winner Mariah Carey singing a song from her classic Christmas album, decked out in a red minidress to give some holiday cheer.
LL Cool J and likely Grammy nominee Taylor Swift were the show’s hosts. Miss Swift, who at just 18 has become one of country and pop’s best-selling stars, was a best-new artist nominee last year.
This year, the best new-artist nominees include teen sensations the Jonas Brothers; Duffy and Adele, both U.K. singers with a soul bent; R&B singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan; and breakout country act Lady Antebellum.
Some surprising omissions: Katy Perry, who had one of the year’s biggest hits with “I Kissed a Girl,” was shut out of the top categories, including record of the year and best new artist. Metallica got three nominations, but their huge comeback record “Death Magnetic” didn’t get a nod for album of the year despite being one of the year’s top sellers.
Also shut out was Miss Swift, who has had a sensational year thanks to the continued success of her 2006 self-titled debut album and her latest top-selling CD, “Fearless.” While neither was eligible for consideration, her recent singles were.
“The Grammy Nominations Concert Live - Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night,” held at the Nokia Theatre, also celebrated the opening of the new Grammy Museum next door.
The Grammy Awards are scheduled for live broadcast on CBS on Feb 8. Last year’s show drew 17.2 million viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys and continuing the trend of shrinking awards-show audiences.
Related story: See the complete list of nominations.
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