Grammy Nods

LOS ANGELES - Two of the biggest selling albums of the year - Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" - were nominated for album of the year Grammys on Wednesday, along with Radiohead for their groundbreaking CD "In Rainbows."

Rounding out the category was singer-songwriter Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman," and Robert Plant's musical collaboration with Alison Krauss, "Raising Sand."

The nominations were unveiled during a live concert special featuring the Foo Fighters, Celine Dion and others, designed to provide a grander showcase for music's top awards show.

While Lil Wayne'e "Tha Carter III" was not regarded as his greatest CD, it was the album that made the highly regarded veteran and ubiquitous rapper a pop superstar, thanks to massive hits like "Lollipop" and "A Milli." The CD was the only record this year to sell 1 million copies in its first week.

Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" was its first album in three years, and was also a huge hit.

Radiohead's "In Rainbows" didn't break sales records, but it was a revolutionary release as well as a critically acclaimed one. It was first released last fall, not in stores, but on the band's Web site - for a pay-as-you wish model. The CD was a viral sensation, and also shook up the already beleaguered recording industry, which is struggling with its traditional business model (although Radiohead later released the album traditionally via a record label).

Plant linked up with Grammy darling and bluegrass artist Alison Krauss for a CD that pushed both in different musical directions, while Ne-Yo, who has produced several smashes for other artists, had success with "Year of the Gentleman."

Also nominated were The Jonas Brothers for the best new artist category. While they have already released two CDs, their latest, "A Little Bit Longer," was their biggest yet in their breakthrough year. The teen sensations join Duffy and Adele, both U.K. singers with a soul bent; singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan; and breakout country act Lady Antebellum.

The Recording Academy typically has announced their nominations like most top awards shows, during a morning news conference. But in an era where awards shows are as commonplace as reality shows, even the top-tier events are finding it hard to stand out.

So they put on the prime-time event, which kicked off with past Grammy winner Mariah Carey singing a song from her classic Christmas album, decked out in a short red minidress to give some holiday cheer.

LL Cool J and likely Grammy nominee Taylor Swift were the shows hosts. Swift, who at just 18 has become one of country and pop's best-selling stars, was a best-new artist nominee last year.

"The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! - Countdown to Music's Biggest Night," held at the Nokia Theatre, will also celebrate the opening of the new Grammy Museum next door.

The Grammy Awards are scheduled for live broadcast on CBS on Feb 8. Last year's show drew 17.2 million viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys and continuing the trend of shrinking awards-show audiences.

www.grammy.com
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Nominations In Top Categories
The Associated Press

Nominees announced Wednesday in top categories for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards:

RECORD OF THE YEAR:
"Chasing Pavements," Adele; "Viva La Vida," Coldplay; "Bleeding Love," Leona Lewis; "Paper Planes," M.I.A; "Please Read The Letter," Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
"Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; "Viva La Vida," Coldplay; "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne; "Year of the Gentleman," Ne-Yo; "In Rainbows," Radiohead.

SONG OF THE YEAR:
"American Boy," William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters (Estelle Featuring Kanye West); "Chasing Pavements," Adele Adkins & Eg White (Adele); "I'm Yours," Jason Mraz; "Love Song," Sara Bareilles; "Viva La Vida," Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, & Chris Martin (Coldplay).

NEW ARTIST:
Adele, Duffy, The Jonas Brothers, Lady Antebellum, Jazmine Sullivan

POP VOCAL ALBUM:
"Detours," Sheryl Crow; "Rockferry," Duffy; "Long Road Out Of Eden," Eagles; "Spirit," Leona Lewis; "Covers," James Taylor.

ROCK ALBUM:
"Viva La Vida," Coldplay; "Rock N Roll Jesus," Kid Rock; "Only By The Night," Kings Of Leon; "Death Magnetic," Metallica; "Consolers Of The Lonely," The Raconteurs.

R&B ALBUM:
"Love & Life," Eric Benét; "Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA," Boyz II Men; "Lay It Down," Al Green; "Jennifer Hudson," Jennifer Hudson; "The Way I See It," Raphael Saadiq.

RAP ALBUM:
"American Gangster," Jay-Z; "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne; "The Cool," Lupe Fiasco; "Nas," Nas; "Paper Trail," T.I.

COUNTRY ALBUM:
"That Lonesome Song," Jamey Johnson; "Sleepless Nights," Patty Loveless; "Troubadour," George Strait; "Around The Bend," Randy Travis; "Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love," Trisha Yearwood.

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM:
"Randy In Brasil," Randy Brecker; "Floating Point," John McLaughlin; "Cannon Re-Loaded: All-Star Celebration Of Cannonball Adderley," various artists, Gregg Field & Tom Scott, producers.