Rapper Eminem scored the most Grammy nominations, with 10 nods, but the surprise of the awards announcement was rising R&B star Bruno Mars, who was nominated for seven awards. Bruno topped a slew of major stars.
Rapper Jay-Z, pop diva Lady Gaga and country group Lady Antebellum each were nominated for six awards.
Eminem, 38, who is making a comeback after battling drug addiction, will lead contenders in the three major award categories: album, song and record of the year.
Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber is the odds-on favorite to take best new artist of the year.
Also nominated for that award are rapper Drake; Florence & The Machine and Mumford & Sons, both from the UK and American jazz singer Esperanza Spalding.
Pop, hip-hop and country artists dominated the 109 award nominations. The winners will be announced in Los Angeles on Feb. 13.
Rock groups are being represented by Indie Montreal-based band Arcade Fire in the coveted album of the year race.
Its third album, The Suburbs,” will go up against Eminem’s Recovery, Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now, Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster and Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream.
Record Of The Year
“Nothin’ On You,” by rapper B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars
“Love The Way You Lie,” by Eminem featuring R&B singer Rihanna
“F*** You,” by funk singer Cee Lo Green
“Empire State Of Mind,” by rapper Jay-Z & R&B singer Alicia Keys
“Need You Now,” by Lady Antebellum.Song of the Year Nominations
“Love the Way You Lie,” Eminem
“F*** You,” Cee Lo Green
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Beg Steal Or Borrow,” Ray LaMontagne
“The House That Built Me,” Miranda Lambert.Album of the Year Nominations
The Suburbs, Arcade Fire
Recovery, Eminem
Need You Now, Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream, Katy PerryBest New Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence and the Machine
Mumford and Sons
Esperanza Spalding
Bruno Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, reached the top of the Hot 100 with “Just the Way You Are” in September, days after he was arrested on a cocaine charge in Las Vegas, according to Reuters.
The song marked his first charting single as a lead artist and it spent four weeks at No. 1. He previously went to No. 1 in May as the featured artist on B.o.B’s “Nothin’ On You.”
Winners in all 109 categories will be announced during ceremonies in Los Angeles on Feb 13.
