Swift fearless as a favorite, but so are Grammy faves Beyonce, Black Eyes Peas, Dave Matthews and now Lady Gaga

By Jeffrey Jolson

Taylor Swift has the class to take 3 top Grammys

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 12/2/09 – 10-time Grammy winner Beyonce notched another 10 noms to lead the Grammy parade on Jan. 31, but she should reckon on country/pop crossover teen Taylor Swift whose eight Grammy noms follow her wins on almost every award show she has had a presence on.

Beyonce may be old news to Grammy voters, but she keeps putting out fresh tunes, just safe and perfect for the voting bodies’ demographic.  Yet Swift has a personal charm and innocence far from last year’s big Grammy winner, Rehab-queen Amy Winehouse.

Swift’s “Love Song” tune is infectious, the album solid and up for Album of the Year as well as song and record of the year.  The wild one Lady Gaga is also up for those three of four top awards (best new artist being the other chief prize).

Nominations for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced tonight by The Recording Academy and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest over the past year in music, as determined by the voting members of The Academy.

The Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell, and Kanye West each earned six nods. David Guetta, Jay-Z and Lady Gaga received five each; and Colbie Caillat, Michael Giacchino, Kings Of Leon, John Newton, RedOne, Bruce Springsteen, T-Pain, and Keith Urban each received four nominations.

For the second year, nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards were announced on primetime television as part of “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night.” The one-hour special — broadcast live on CBS from Club Nokia at L.A. Live — featured the announcement of nominations in several categories as well as performances by the Black Eyed Peas, DJ/producer Guetta, Maxwell, Nick Jonas & The Administration, Sugarland, and host LL Cool J. Presenters included Linkin Park, George Lopez, Katy Perry, Smokey Robinson, Ringo Starr, T-Pain, and Dwight Yoakam.

“The nominations this year truly reflect the talented community of music makers who represent some of the highest levels of excellence in their respective fields,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “Once again, the GRAMMY Awards process has yielded a well-rounded and diverse group of impressive nominees across multiple genres. Coupled with the second year of our primetime nominations special, which featured stellar performances by past GRAMMY winners and nominees, the road to Music’s Biggest Night and the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards in January is off to an exciting start.”

Smokey Robinson and Ringo Starr had the honors of naming those in the running for Record of the Year and Album of the Year.  For Record: Beyoncé’s “Halo,”, Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling,” Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” and Swift’s “You Belong to Me.”

“Don’t worry, Taylor,” advised Robinson. “Kanye West is not here.”

Album of the Year nominees are Beyoncé’s I Am Sasha Fierce, the Black Eyed Peas’ The End, the Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey and Swift’s Fearless.

Partial list of winners for 52^nd Grammys, see related story for complete list in 108 fields

RECORD OF THE YEAR

“Halo,” Beyonce

“I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas

“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon

“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga

“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“I Am…Sasha Fierce,” Beyonce

“The E.N.D.,” The Black Eyed Peas

“The Fame,” Lady Gaga

“Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King,” Dave Matthews Band

“Fearless,” Taylor Swift

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga & RedOne

“Pretty Wings,” Hod David & Musze

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart

“Use Somebody,” Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill (Kings of Leon)

“You Belong With Me,” Liz Rose & Taylor Swift

BEST NEW ARTIST

Zac Brown Band

Keri Wilson

MGMT

Silversun Pickups

The Ting Tings

BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“Hometown Glory,” Adele

“Halo,” Beyonce

“Hot N Cold,” Katy Perry

“Sober,” Pink

“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“This Time,” John Legend

“Love You,” Maxwell

“Make It Mine,” Jason Mraz

“If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” Seal

“All About the Love Again,” Stevie Wonder

BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS

“I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas

“We Weren’t Born to Follow,” Bon Jovi

“Never Say Never,” The Fray

“Sara Smile,” Daryl Hall & John Oates

“Kids,” MGMT

BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS

“Sea of Heartbreak,” Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen

“Love Sex Magic,” Ciara & Justin Timberlake

“Lucky,” Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” Willie Nelson & Norah Jones

“Breathe,” Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE

“Besame Mucho,” Herb Alpert

“Throw Down Your Heart,” Bela Fleck

“The Fire,” Imogen Heap

“Phoenix Rise,” Maxwell

“Funk Joint,” Marcus Miller

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

“In Boston,” Chris Botti

“Legacy,” Hiroshima

“Potato Hole,” Booker T. Jones

“Modern Art,” The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman

“Down The Wire,” Spyro Gyra

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

“The E.N.D.,” The Black Eyed Peas

“Breakthrough,” Colbie Caillat

“All I Ever Wanted,” Kelly Clarkson

“The Fray,” The Fray

“Funhouse,” Pink