By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
LOS ANGELES - Besides being one of the most popular singers on the planet, Beyonce has gotten plenty of accolades over her career. Now a veteran, she's won a caseload of Grammys for her solo work and also with Destiny's Child.
What she hasn't won, however, is the prestigious album of the year trophy, despite being nominated once before. That may change on Sunday. The superstar is nominated for a leading 10 Grammys, including record of the year for "Halo," song of the year for her anthem "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" and album of the year for her multiplatinum third CD, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce."
Of course, she faces tough competition - especially from two newer divas.
Taylor Swift isn't far behind in the Grammy nominee count with eight. She too is up for the evening's three top awards: "Fearless" is nominated for album of the year, and her song "You Belong With Me" is nominated for both record and song of the year. Swift, whose country album became the most popular album of any genre last year, has captured top awards at just about every awards show she's been at, from the Country Music Association Awards to the MTV Video Music Awards. The 20-year-old, who is only on her second album, could emerge as the top winner at the Grammys as well.
Lady Gaga is another relative newcomer up for top awards. Although she was disqualified from the best new artist category because her first single, "Just Dance," was released last fall and nominated for a Grammy, the Recording Academy more than made up for her exclusion in that category. Gaga is up for five Grammys, and like Beyonce and Swift, is also up for record and song of the year, for "Poker Face," and album of the year for "The Fame."
Rounding out the album of the year category is the Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D.," and the Dave Matthews Band's "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King." The latter album was the band's first release since the death of founding member and saxophonist LeRoi Moore.
All are expected to perform on Sunday's show, to be aired on CBS from Staples Center. But the show won't be all about the nominees. There will be a special 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson; a video clip he made of "Earth Song" will be shown, as Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson sing along.
Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli will celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Bridge Over Troubled Water's" Grammy wins with a special performance of the classic song, which will be made available on iTunes. The proceeds will be donated to Haiti relief.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc. .
If you were not able to watch the Grammy Awards 2010, you can check out the list of Grammy Awards winners here.
- Record of the Year Award: “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
- Album of the Year Award: “Fearless,” Taylor Swift
- Song of the Year Award: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On it),” Beyonce Knowles
- New Artist Award: Zac Brown Band
- Pop Vocal Album Award: “The E.N.D.”, The Black Eyed Peas
- Female Pop Vocal Performance Award: “Halo,” Beyonce Knowles
- Male Pop Vocal Performance Award: “Make It Mine,” Jason Mraz
- Rock Album Award: “21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day
- Rock Song Award: “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
- R&B Album Award: “BLACKsummers’night, “Maxwell
- R&B Song Award: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Beyonce Knowles
- Rap Album Award: “Relapse,” Eminem
- Rap Song Award: “Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West
- Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Award: “Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West
- Country Album Award: “Fearless,” Taylor Swift
- Female Country Vocal Performance Award: “White Horse,” Taylor Swift
- Male Country Vocal Performance Award: “Sweet Thing,” Keith Urban,
- Latin Pop Album Award: “Sin Frenos,” La Quinta Estacion
- Contemporary Jazz Album Award: “75,” Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
- Classical Album Award: “Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio from Symphony No. 10″
- Traditional Gospel Album Award: “Oh Happy Day,” various artists
- Dance Recording Award: “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
- Electronic Dance Album Award: “The Fame,” Lady Gaga
- Alternative Music Album Award: “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” Phoenix
- Best Rock Instrumental Performance Award: “A Day In The Life,” Jeff Beck
- Best Metal Performance Award: “Dissident Aggressor,” Judas Priest
- Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: “Ellipse,” Imogen Heap
- Spoken Word Album Award: “Always Looking Up,” Michael J. Fox
- Comedy Album Award: “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” Stephen Colbert
- Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Various Artists, A.R. Rahman, producer.
- Traditional World Music Album: “Douga Mansa,” Mamadou Diabate.
- Contemporary World Music Album: “Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 – Africa Sessions,” Bela Fleck.
- Reggae Album: “Mind Control – Acoustic,” Stephen Marley.
- Tropical Latin Album: “Ciclos,” Luis Enrique.
- Latin Pop Album: “Sin Frenos,” La Quinta Estacion.
- Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album: “Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo,” Calle 13.
- Regional Mexican Album: “Necesito De Ti,” Vicente Fernandez.
- Tejano Album: “Borders Y Bailes,” Los Texmaniacs.
- Norteno Album: “Tu Noche Con…Los Tigres Del Norte,” Los Tigres Del Norte.
- Banda Album: “Tu Esclavo Y Amo,” Lupillo Rivera.
Jeff Beck's immaculate tribute to the late, GREAT, Les Paul and Mary Ford.
Pink's performance- Glitter in the Air
Beyonce's performance
Michael Jackson Tribute performance
MJ Earth Song Tribute
