Last night (December 1), on a special televised event, the Grammy Awards organization announced with great fanfare the nominees for the upcoming gala ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, 2011.
The 53rd annual event will feature favourite Eminem, who leads the pack with 10 nominations, while closest rival, Bruno Mars received seven, followed by Jay-Z, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga all with six nominations each.
In the most prestigious album of the year category, Eminem’s Recovery will battle Lady Antebellum (Need You Now), Lady Gaga (The Fame Monster) Katy Perry (Teenage Dream) and Arcade Fire (The Suburbs).
For Montreal band Arcade Fire, this nomination is one of three that the group received – having also been nominated for alternative album of the year and best rock performance by a duo or group.
Canadian Justin Bieber, who recently took home four trophies from the American Music Awards, was nominated in one category: best new artist. He is predicted to win this category, in which his strongest competition is fellow Canadian and friend, Drake.
The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards) – or Grammys – are presented annually by the U.S. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in the music industry.