The nominations for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards were announced on Wednesday evening during a live concert hosted by LL Cool J from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Performance highlights from the Grammy Nominations Concert Live came from R&B star Usher, who remembered late songwriters Nickolas Ashford and Jerry Leiber with a medley of their hits, while Common, Lupe Fiasco and LL Cool J hit the stage to pay tribute to rap icon Grandmaster Flash with a rousing rendition of hip-hop anthem “The Messag”e with the legend himself and his longtime collaborator Melle Mel to mark the recording’s recent addition to the 2012 Grammy Hall of Fame.
There were also two unlikely country collaborations – Jason Aldean and rapper Ludacris teamed up for the singer’s track “Dirt Road Anthem,” and Lady Gaga, who opened the event wearing skeletal face paint to sing “Marry The Night,” was joined by Sugarland to close the show with the pop superstar’s hit single “You and I.”
Kanye West, Adele, Foo Fighters, and Bruno Mars will be the ones to watch at the 54th annual Grammy Awards after each landing a slew of top nominations.
Kanye leads the way with seven nods – his star-studded collaboration “All of the Lights” is up for Song of the Year and Best Rap Song, while he also earns a nod in the latter category for his Jay-Z duet “Otis.” The hip-hop stars’ Watch The Throne album will also go head-to-head with West’s solo disc, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy for Best Rap Album.
Adele is in the running for six honors and her critically-acclaimed album 21 will fight for the prestigious titles of Record of the Year and Album of the Year, while “Rolling in the Deep” will compete for Song of the Year.
Rockers Foo Fighters and R&B singer Mars are also six-time nominees, while Lil Wayne, dubstep DJ Skrillex and Lady Gaga earned multiple mentions too.
The 54th annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12.
Click inside for the main list of nominees. Full list here.
Who do you think got snubbed and who are you rooting for? Should Taylor Swift and Kanye West been nominated for album of the year? Why didn’t Beyonce get more nominations? Let us know!
The main list of nominees is as follows:
Record of the Year:
Adele – Rolling in the Deep
Bon Iver – Holocene
Bruno Mars – Grenade
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
Katy Perry – Firework
Song Of The Year:
Kanye West – All of the Lights
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
Bruno Mars – Grenade
Bon Iver – Holocene
Adele – Rolling in the Deep
Best New Artist:
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
Album Of The Year:
Adele – 21
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Lady Gaga – Born This Way
Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Rihanna – Loud
Best Pop Solo Performance:
Adele – Someone Like You
Lady Gaga – You And I
Bruno Mars – Grenade
Katy Perry – Firework
Pink – F**kin’ Perfect
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse – Body and Soul
The Black Keys – Dearest
Coldplay – Paradise
Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks
Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger
Best Pop Vocal Album:
Adele – 21
Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer
Lady Gaga – Born This Way
Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Rihanna – Loud
Best Rock Song:
Mumford & Sons – The Cave
The King Is Dead – Down By The Water
Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
The King of Limbs – Lotus Flower
Foo Fighters – Walk
Best Rock Album:
Jeff Beck – Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown
Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You
Wilco – The Whole Love
Best R&B Song:
Marsha Ambrosius – Far Away
Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona – Fool For You
Kelly Price & Stokley – Not My Daddy
Ledisi – Pieces of Me
Charlie Wilson – You Are
Best R&B Album:
Chris Brown – F.A.M.E.
El DeBarge – Second Chance
R. Kelly – Love Letter
Ledisi – Pieces of Me
Kelly Price – Kelly
Best Rap Song:
Kanye West – All of the Lights
Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow
Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey – I Need A Doctor
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – Look At Me Now
Jay-Z & Kanye West – Otis
Lupe Fiasco – The Show Goes On
Best Rap Album:
Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne
Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV
Lupe Fiasco – Lasers
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Best Country Song:
Thompson Square – Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not
Blake Shelton – God Gave Me You
Trace Adkins – Just Fishin’
Taylor Swift – Mean
Vince Gill – Threaten Me With Heaven
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter – You And Tequila
Best Country Album:
Jason Aldean – My Kinda Party
Eric Church – Chief
Lady Antebellum – Own The Night
Blake Shelton – Red River Blue
George Strait – Here For A Good Time
Taylor Swift – Speak Now
