Fresh off of her nine Billboard Awards last week, scored a leading eight Grammy nominations today as the recording academy announced the contenders for its annual awards yesterday.
“Be Without You,” a single from Ms. Blige’s album “The Breakthrough,” drew nominations in two big categories, record of the year and song of the year, although the album itself did not make the list of nominees for album of the year. Ms. Blige, who helped announce the nominations at a news conference in Los Angeles, also received one for her recording, with the rock band U2 of the band’s song “One,” which they performed on the last Grammy telecast in February.
Experimental hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley received four nominations. Ludacris, T.I. and newcomer MC. Lupe Fiasco each drew multiple nominations along with Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas for his work with Ms. Blige and others. Timbaland, who had been considered a contender for the hits he produced for Mr. Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, did not make the list.
The 49th annual Grammy awards will be handed out on Feb. 11 during a CBS broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.