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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 7 — Mary J. Blige, the resilient R&B star whose comeback album showcased her raw emotions and confessional style, scored a leading eight Grammy nominations today as the recording academy announced the contenders for its annual awards.
British singer Corinne Bailey Rae was interviewed after receiving three nominations during a news conference today for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. More Photos »
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The Nominees
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Mary J. Blige attended the news conference today in the Hollywood. More Photos >
“Be Without You,” a single from Ms. Blige’s album “The Breakthrough,” drew nominations intwo big categories, record of the year and song of the year, although the album itself did not make the list of nominees for album of the year. Ms. Blige, who helped announce the nominations at a news conference today in Los Angeles, also received one for her recording, with the rock band U2, of the band’s song “One,” which they performed on the last Grammy telecast in February.
The 49th annual Grammy awards will be handed out on Feb. 11 during a CBS broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Ms. Blige, whose personal battles have long been a creative motif, won’t be the only nominee to have traveled a rocky road to the awards. The multiplatinum country act the Dixie Chicks — who found their career sidetracked after their lead singer, Natalie Maines, criticized President Bush and prompted a revolt among country fans at the outset of the Iraq war — received five nominations, including for album, record and song of the year.
Grammy voters also recognized a somewhat more traditional Nashville act: Carrie Underwood, the winner last year on “American Idol.” Ms. Underwood’s two nominations — including best new artist — offered more proof that the popular TV contest isn’t a handicap in the Grammy competition; Kelly Clarkson, another “Idol” contestant, was a standout winner at the last Grammy awards.
One name called far less frequently than expected, however, was that of Bob Dylan, whose album “Modern Times” some critics consider to be late-career masterpiece. Mr. Dylan received three nominations, but none in the major categories.
The nominees for album of the year, aside from the Dixie Chicks, are rock veterans the Red Hot Chili Peppers (they drew six nominations total), the pop singer Justin Timberlake (four nominations), adult-friendly pop singer John Mayer (five nominations), and the experimental hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley (four nominations; they were also nominated for record of the year for the single “Crazy”).
The other contenders for record of the year include two young singers who are also competing for best new artist — James Blunt (five nominations) and Corinne Bailey Rae (three). The two are also in the running for song of the year (which goes to songwriters, who may or may not also perform the song), as are the writers of Ms. Underwood’s hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
Also competing for best new artist are the R&B upstart Chris Brown and the singer Imogen Heap, who separately received a nomination for best song for motion picture or television for her song for “The Chronicles of Narnia” film.
Two new rock acts — the Arctic Monkeys, the British band that generated huge popularity on the Internet, and the Raconteurs, featuring Jack White of the White Stripes — got two nominations each in the rock and alternative categories.
In rap, Ludacris and T.I. (who have both attracted notice for their turns as Hollywood actors over the past year or so) and the newcomer Lupe Fiasco led the field, with each drawing multiple nominations including for best rap album and best rap song (for their roles as writers or co-writers).
Rick Rubin, the producer of the Dixie Chicks’ and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ albums, received a nomination for producer of the year, as did Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas for his work with Ms. Blige and others; T Bone Burnett, Howard Benson and Danger Mouse, who is one half of Gnarls Barkley. Timbaland, who had been considered a contender for the hits he produced for Mr. Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, did not make the list.
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