Mary J. Blige leads the Grammies

Mary J. Blige has topped the nominations list for the 49th annual Grammy Awards.The Recording Academy announced the nominees yesterday (08.12.06) revealing the R'n'B diva to be way ahead of her fellow nominees with eight nominations.The Red Hot Chili Peppers were her closest rival with six, James Blunt, the Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Danger Mouse, Prince, Rick Rubin, Will.i.am and John Williams received five, while Beyoncé Knowles, Bryan-Michael Cox, Gnarls Barkley, Israel Houghton, T.I and Justin Timberlake managed four nominations.Blige was nominated for best Female R'n'B vocal performance for 'Be Without You' and faces competition from Beyoncé ('Ring The Alarm'), Mariah Carey ('Don't Forget About Us'), Natalie Cole ('Day Dreaming') and India.Arie for ('I Am Not My Hair').Timberlake's 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' was nominated for the coveted Album of the Year category, against 'Taking The Long Way' by the Dixie Chicks, 'St. Elsewhere' by Gnarls Barkley, 'Continuum' by John Mayer and 'Stadium Arcadium' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.Record of the Year nominees include 'Be Without You' by Mary J. Blige, 'You're Beautiful' by James Blunt, 'Not Ready To Make Nice' by the Dixie Chicks, 'Crazy' by Gnarls Barkley and 'Put Your Records On' by British newcomer Corinne Bailey Rae.Bailey Rae is also nominated for best New Artist alongside James Blunt, Chris Brown, British singer Imogen Heap and Carrie Underwood.

Blige's album 'Breakthrough' - which scooped nine accolades at the Billboard Awards this week and two American Music Awards last month - is nominated for best R'n'B Album. It is up against Jamie Foxx's 'Unpredictable', India.Arie's 'Testimony: Vol.1, Life & Relationship'; Prince's '3121', and Lionel Richie's 'Coming Home'.

The 49th Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from the Los Angeles Staples Centre on February 11 next year.

The official Grammy kick-off party is being held on December 14 at JET nightclub at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

The December bash will be hosted by Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx and will feature performances from Fergie, Josh Kelley and John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting.

Grammy nominations in full

Album of the Year

'Taking The Long Way' Dixie Chicks

'St. Elsewhere' Gnarls Barkley

'Continuum' John Mayer

'Stadium Arcadium' Red Hot Chili Peppers

'FutureSex/LoveSounds' Justin Timberlake

Record of the Year

'Be Without You' Mary J. Blige

'You're Beautiful' James Blunt

'Not Ready To Make Nice' Dixie Chicks

'Crazy' Gnarls Barkley

'Put Your Records On' Corinne Bailey Rae

Song of the Year

'Be Without You' Mary J. Blige

'Jesus, Take The Wheel' Performed by Carrie Underwood

'Not Ready To Make Nice' Dixie Chicks

'Put Your Records On' Corinne Bailey Rae

'You're Beautiful' James Blunt

Best New Artist

James Blunt

Chris Brown

Imogen Heap

Corinne Bailey Rae

Carrie Underwood

Pop Vocal Album

'Back To Basics' Christina Aguilera

'Back To Bedlam' James Blunt

'The River In Reverse' Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint

'Continuum' John Mayer

'FutureSex/LoveSounds' Justin Timberlake

Rap Album

'Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor' Lupe Fiasco

'Release Therapy' Ludacris

'In My Mind' Pharrell

'Game Theory' The Roots

'King' T.I.

Rock Album

'Try!' John Mayer Trio

'Highway Companion' Tom Petty

'Broken Boy Soldiers' The Raconteurs

'Stadium Arcadium' Red Hot Chili Peppers

'Living With War' Neil Young

Country Album

'Taking The Long Way' Dixie Chicks

'Like Red On A Rose' Alan Jackson

'The Road To Here' Little Big Town

'You Don't Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker' Willie Nelson

'Your Man' Josh Turner

R&B Album

'The Breakthrough' Mary J. Blige

'Unpredictable' Jamie Foxx

'Testimony: Vol. 1' Life & Relationship' India.Arie

'3121' Prince

'Coming Home' Lionel Richie

Electronic Music/Dance Album

'Supernature' Goldfrapp

'Confessions On A Dance Floor' Madonna

'A Lively Mind' Oakenfold

'Fundamental' Pet Shop Boys

'The Garden' Zero 7

Alternative Music Album

'Whatever People Say I Am' That's What I'm Not' Arctic Monkeys

'At War With The Mystics' The Flaming Lips

'St. Elsewhere' Gnarls Barkley

'Show Your Bones' Yeah Yeah Yeahs

'The Eraser' Thom Yorke