LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Recording Academy) - Nominations for the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced today by The Recording Academy reflecting one of the most diverse years ever, with the Album Of The Year category alone representing the country, hip-hop, jazz, pop and rock genres.
Kanye West topped the nominations with eight, Amy Winehouse garnered six, and the Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and T-Pain each earned five nods.
Akon, Dierks Bentley, Chris Daughtry, Feist, Tim McGraw, John Newton, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, and Bruce Springsteen received four each.
The press event was held at The Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood and was attended by national and international media, as well as key music industry executives. Artists who helped announce the nominations included Akon, Fergie, Vince Gill, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) Herbie Hancock, Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Recording Academy Chair Jimmy Jam, George Lopez, Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) and Taylor Swift.
"This year's nominations truly reflect a diverse and talented community of artists and creators who represent some of the most exceptional music of the year," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "The GRAMMY Awards process once again has yielded a comprehensive group of excellent nominees and coupled with the fact that it's our milestone 50th year, this year's telecast promises music fans a spectacular show filled with stellar performances and unique 'GRAMMY Moments' for which Music's Biggest Night has come to be renowned."
Following are the nominees in the four General Field categories:
Album Of The Year:
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (Foo Fighters)
These Days (Vince Gill)
River: The Joni Letters (Herbie Hancock)
Graduation (Kanye West)
Back To Black (Amy Winehouse)
Record Of The Year:
"Irreplaceable" (Beyoncé)
"The Pretender" (Foo Fighters)
"Umbrella" (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z)
"What Goes Around…Comes Around" (Justin Timberlake)
"Rehab" (Amy Winehouse)
Song Of The Year:
"Before He Cheats," John Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood, artist)
"Hey There Delilah," Tom Higgenson, songwriter (Plain White T's, artist)
"Like A Star," Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriter (Corinne Bailey Rae, artist)
"Rehab," Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse, artist)
"Umbrella," Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius "Dream" Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z, artist)
Best New Artist:
Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse
The 50th GRAMMY Awards feature one new category and one category split.
In the newly added Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album category, nominations go to Le Cowboy Creole by Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie; King Cake by Lisa Haley; Live: Á La Blue Moon by Lost Bayou Ramblers; Blues De Musicien by Pine Leaf Boys; Racines by Racines; The La Louisianne Sessions by Roddie Romero And The Hub City All-Stars; and Live! Worldwide by Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience.
In the Latin Field, Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album has now been split into two categories.
Nominations for Best Latin Rock Or Alternative Album are No Hay Espacio by Black:Guayaba; Adelantando by Jarabe De Palo; Amantes Sunt Amentes by Panda; Kamikaze by Rabanes; and Memo Rex Commander Y El Corazón Atómico De La Via Láctea by Zoé.
For Best Latin Urban Album, nods go to E.S.L. by Akwid; El Abayarde Contra-Ataca by Tego Calderón; Residente O Visitante by Calle 13; El Cartel: The Big Boss by Daddy Yankee; and Vacaneria! By Fulanito.
This year's Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominations go to Howard Benson, Joe Chiccarelli, Mike Elizondo, Mark Ronson, and Timbaland
GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on Dec. 12 to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by Jan. 9, 2008, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the telecast.
The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Feb. 10, 2008, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
