Elton John Still Talks to Eminem

Elton John and Eminem are quite the odd couple. The iconic singer and the comeback rapper originally paired up for a Grammy performance several years back and Eminem even credits Elton for helping him get clean a few years ago. Who would have thought that they would still be in touch? During a recent interview, Eminem revealed “Elton John calls me once a week. He used to tell me stuff like, ‘You’re going to start seeing certain things you’ve been overlooking’. And it came true. I’d walk around like, ‘Damn, that tree does look crazy, look at all those leaves!’ Things I didn’t notice when I was f**ked up.” I’d imagine that Elton is a great supporter.

Taylor Swift Covers Elle

Taylor Swift is featured on the cover of the April 2010 issue of Elle magazine. The 20-year old Grammy award winning country singer talked about the media scrutiny saying “I’ve had countless opportunities to do some really bad things. And then people start combing through everything I do trying to find the next mistake and misperception, which leads to more scrutiny. Like, if I go to a bar, even if I’m not drinking, who’s to say that a source isn’t going to say that I was doing something I shouldn’t have been doing? So it’s not only about your own moral compass, but the moral compasses of other people that you don’t know.” Mind you, she also revealed that she thinks that Taylor Lautner is hot. Is there a possibility of reconciliation for them?

Timbaland Talks Madonna

Timbaland recently had an interview where he talked about respect in the music industry. The rapper/producer even talked about singer Madonna. He said of the Queen of Pop “People do not respect music anymore… They go by what’s hot… If you’re hot, you deserve 4 or 5 Grammys. Madonna is a genius and she only has 2 or 3 Grammys… What is that about?” Timbaland absolutely has a point. Madonna is a musical genius and she hasn’t gotten much recognition for everything that she’s done. People just go with what’s hot these days and don’t really care much about music.

Ke$ha Covers Billboard

Ke$ha is on the February 27 cover of Billboard magazine. The trashy pop singer has the longest running number 1 debut single by a female artist on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1977 as ‘TiK ToK’ holds the spot for a ninth week. During the Grammys, Ke$ha went backstage and ran into Ringo Starr, who congratulated her on her success. The singer spoke about her surprise after the greeting, saying “He congratulated me? Ringo Starr? Congratulations to me? It was more like, ‘Congratulations to you for being a f—ing Beatle.’” I’m kind of glad that she’s still her own trashy self even when she’s in front of major rock stars.

Taylor Swift Gets Defense

Taylor Swift had a pretty shaky performance at the Grammy Awards last Sunday but she did come home with four awards. And if you ask the president of her label Big Machine, Scott Borchetta, they were well deserved. A couple of days after the Grammys, Scott said that he thinks that the country singer’s critics just don’t get it. He said “Maybe she’s not the best technical singer, but she’s probably the best emotional singer because everybody else who gets up there and is technically perfect, people don’t seem to want more of it. If you pick any of those artists that performed [at the Grammys], I’m sure you can go online and find something where you go, ‘ew.’ Maybe in that moment we didn’t have the best night. But in the same breath, maybe we did. And nobody is arguing with the awards.”

Jay-Z’s magnificent wife

The rapper who is married to multi-Grammy winning artist Beyonce admitted that it has come to the point where he expects her to win awards simply due to the fact that she is so amazing. This is what Jay-Z said on the matter: “It’s almost got to a point where you just, you know, you’re almost numb to it because she’s so magnificent every single time.” Jay-Z does make a valid point. It has begun to be a bit redundant that Beyonce wins every single time… come on, leave a little for the little guys too! Could this be the future: Beyonce an Taylor Swift get all the awards and the rest get nothing? Now that just not darn fair, is it?

Taylor Swift Wins Grammys Top Honor

Taylor Swift took home four Grammy awards at the 2010 Grammys, which includes the top prize of Album of the Year for her album ‘Fearless’. The 20-year old country singer also won Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song for ‘White Horse’ and Best Country Album. In her acceptance speech for Album of the Year, Taylor said “This is the story that all of us, when we’re 80 years old and we are telling the same stories over and over again to our grandkids and they’re so annoyed with us…this is the story that we’re going to be telling over and over again – in 2010, that we got to win Album of the Year at the Grammys! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Congratulations!

Elton John to play with Lady Gaga at the Grammys?

Elton John is rumoured to be teaming up with Lady Gaga at this weekend’s Grammys.

The Rocket Man star stunned audiences when he performed with Eminem nine years ago.

And sources say he is planning to do the same on Sunday when he takes to the stage with the Poker Face singer.

Sir Elton, 62, had no comment when asked about the collaboration.

But Gaga is also set to play at a February AIDS benefit in New York where he will be honoured.

The Grammys take place in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

It follows reports that Michael Jackson’s children may perform in a tribute to their famous dad, who died last June at the age of 50.

Grammy Performers Announced

The list of Grammy performances is slowly coming together as it was recently announced that Beyonce and Taylor Swift will be performing at the 2010 Grammy Awards, as confirmed by People and ET. The R&B diva holds the most nominations this year with 10 nods while the country singer is close behind with 8 nods. Tune in to see what I’m sure will be great performances from the two as well as to see just how many trophies either of them would be raking in. The Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and Lady Antebellum have also been announced to perform. The Grammys are set to air live on January 31, 2010 at 8PM ET/PT on CBS.

50 Cent is Bitter

It seems that 50 Cent has gotten his panties in a bunch after failing to receive a Grammy nomination this year. In fact, the rapper has been nominated a total of 13 times but has failed to clinch himself a trophy. He told MTV “Man, f**k the Grammys! I couldn’t care less about the Grammy Awards. It’ll be the Beyoncé and Taylor Swift show. I guess they’ll both be performing at the awards show, which means their record companies will be spending money to raise the production values of the entire show. And when you spend that kind of money you’re supposed to get trophies.”

2010 grammy awards nominees

2010 Grammy Awards Nominees Full List:

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 Hilson

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

BEST DANCE RECORDING

“Boom Boom Pow,” The Black Eyed Peas

“When Love Takes Over,” David Guetta & Kelly Rowland

“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga

“Celebration,” Madonna

“Womanizer,” Britney Spears

BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM

“Divided By Night,” The Crystal Method

“One Love,” David Guetta

“The Fame,” Lady Gaga

“Party Rock,” LMFAO

“Yes,” Pet Shop Boys

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM

“A Swingin’ Christmas,” Tony Bennett

“Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden,” Michael Buble

“Your Songs,” Harry Connick, Jr.

“Liza’s At the Palace,” Liza Minnelli

“American Classic,” Willie Nelson

BEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“Beyond Here Lies Nothin’,” Bob Dylan

“Change In the Weather,” John Fogerty

“Dreamer,” Prince

“Working On a Dream,” Bruce Springsteen

“Fork in the Road,” Neil Young

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS

“Can’t Find My Way Home,” Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood

“Life In Technicolor II,” Coldplay

“21 Guns,” Green Day

“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon

“I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” U2

BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE

“War Machine,” AC/DC

“Check My Brain,” Alice In Chains

“When I’ve Done,” Linkin Park

“The Unforgiven III,” Metallica

“Burn It To The Ground,” Nickelback

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE

“Dissident Aggressor,” Judas Priest

“Set To Fail,” Lamb of God

“Head Crusher,” Megadeth

“Senor Peligro,” Ministry

“Hate Worldwide,” Slayer

BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE

“A Day In The Life,” Jeff Beck

“Warped Sister,” Booker T. Jones

“Playing With Fire,” Brad Paisley

“Mr. Surfer Goes Jazzin’,” Brian Setzer Orchestra

“Now We Run,” Steve Vai

BEST ROCK SONG

“The Fixer,” Matt Cameron, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready & Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)

“I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge & Larry Mullen Jr. (U2)

“21 Guns,” Billi Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tre Cool (Green Day)

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

“Working On A Dream,” Bruce Springsteen

BEST ROCK ALBUM

“Black Ice,” AC/DC

“Live From Madison Square Garden,” Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood

“21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day

“Big Whiskey And the Groogrux King,” Dave Matthew Band

“No Line On The Horizon,” U2

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM

“Everything That Happens Will Happen Today,” David Byrne & Brian Eno

“The Open Door,” Death Cab For Cutie

“Sounds of the Universe,” Depeche Mode

“Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” Phoenix

“It’s Blitz!,” Yeah Yeah Yeahs

BEST FEMALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” Beyonce

“It Kills Me,” Melanie Fiona

“That Was Then,” Lalah Hathaway

“Goin’ Thru Changes,” Ledisi

“Lions, Tigers & Bears,” Jazmine Sullivan

BEST MALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“The Point Of It All,” Anthony Hamilton

“Pretty Wings,” Maxwell

“Sobeautiful,” Musiq Soulchild

“Under,” Pleasure P

“There Goes My Baby,” Charlie Wilson

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS

“Blame It,” Jamie Foxx & T-Pain

“Chocolate High,” India.Arie & Musiq Soulchild

“Ifuleave,” Musiq Soulchild & Mary J. Blige

“Higher Ground,” Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters

“Love Has Finally Come At Last,” Calvin Richardson & Ann Nesby

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“At Last,” Beyonce

“Soul Music,” Anthony Hamilton

“Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,” Boney James & Quinn

“Sow Love,” Ann Nesby

“Woman Gotta Have It,” Calvin Richardson

BEST URBAN/ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE

“Daykeeper,” The Foreign Exchange

“All Matter,” Robert Glasper & Bilal

“Pearls,” India.Arie & Dobet Gnahore

“A Tale of Two,” Eric Roberson, Ben O’Neill & Michelle Thompson

“Blend,” Tonex

BEST R&B SONG

“Blame It,” James T. Brown, John Conte, Jr., Jamie Foxx, Christopher Henderson, Brandon R. Melachon, Breyon Prescott, T-Pain & Nathan L. Walker (Jamie Foxx & T-Pain)

“Lions, Tigers & Bears,” Salaam Remi & Jazzmine Sullivan (Jazmine Sullivan)

“Pretty Wings,” Hod David & Musze (Maxwell)

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

“Under,” D. Babbs, L. Bereal, M. Cooper, A. Dixon, J. Franklin, T. Jones, R. New & K. Stephens (Pleasure P)

BEST R&B ALBUM

“The Point Of It All,” Anthony Hamilton

“Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics,” India.Arie

“Turn Me Loose,” Ledisi

“Blacksummers’ Night,” Maxwell

“Uncle Charlie,” Charlie Wilson

BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM

“I Am…Sasha Fierce,” Beyonce

“Intuition,” Jamie Foxx

“The Introduction Of Marcus Cooper,” Pleasure P

“Ready,” Trey Songs

“Thr33 Rings,” T-Pain

BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE

“Best I Ever Had,” Drake

“Beautiful,” Eminem

“D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune),” Jay-Z

“Day ‘N’ Nite,” Kid Cudi

“Casa Bey,” Mos Def

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP

“Too Many Rappers,” Beastie Boys & Nas

“Crack a Bottle,” Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent

“Money Goes, Honey Stay,” Fabolous & Jay-Z

“Make Her Say,” Kid Cudi, Kanye West & Common

“Amazing,” Kanye West & Young Jeezy

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION

“Ego,” Beyonce & Kanye West

“Know You Down,” Keri Hilson, Kanye West & Ne-Yo

“Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

“I’m On A Boat,” The Lonely Island & T-Pain

“Dead And Gone,” T.I. & Justin Timberlake

BEST RAP SONG

“Best I Ever Had,” Aubrey Drake Graham, D. Hamilton & M. Samuels (Drake)

“Day ‘N’ Nite,” S. Mescudi, O. Omishore (Kid Cudi)

“Dead And Gone,” C. Harris, R. Tadross, J. Timberlake (T.I. & Justin Timberlake)

“D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),” Shawn Carter & Ernest Wilson (Jay-Z)

“Run This Town,” Shawn Carter, R. Fenty, M. Riddick, Kanye West & E. Wilson (Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West)

BEST RAP ALBUM

“Universal Mind Control,” Common

“Relapse,” Eminem

“R.O.O.T.S.,” Flo Rida

“The Ecstatic,” Mos Def

“The Renaissance,” Q-Tip

BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“Dead Flowers,” Miranda Lambert

“I Just Call You Mine,” Martina McBride

“White Horse,” Taylor Swift

“Just A Dream,” Carrie Underwood

“Solitary Thinkin’,” Lee Ann Womack

BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE

“All I Ask For Anymore,” Trace Adkins

“People Are Crazy,” Billy Currington

“High Cost Of Living,” Jamey Johnson

“Living For The Night,” George Strait

“Sweet Thing,” Keith Urban

BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS

“Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” Brooks & Dunn

“Chicken Fried,” Zac Brown Band

“I Run To You,” Lady Antebellum

“Here Comes Goodbye,” Racal Flatts

“It Happens,” Sugarland

BEST COUNTRY COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS

“Beautiful World,” Dierks Bentley & Patty Griffin

“Down The Road,” Kenny Chesney & Mac McAnally

“Start A Band,” Brad Paisley & Keith Urban

“I Told You So,” Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis

“Everything But Quits,” Lee Ann Womack & George Strait

BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE

“Under the (Five) Wire,” Alison Brown

“The Crystal Merchant,” The Greencards

“Mansinneedof,” Sarah Jarosz

“Producer’s Medley,” Steve Wariner

BEST COUNTRY SONG

“All I Ask For Anymore,” Casey Beathard & Tim James (Trace Adkins)

“High Cost of Living,” Jamey Johnson & James Slater (Jamey Johnson)

“I Run To You,” Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum)

“People Are Crazy,” Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones (Billy Currington)

“White Horse,” Liz Rose & Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift)

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

“The Foundation,” Zac Brown Band

“Twang,” George Strait

“Fearless,” Taylor Swift

“Defying Gravity,” Keith Urban

Chris Brown loses Grammy, Wrigley

What was anticipated as a show-off day for Chris Brown turned the other way around after police barged in the Grammy venue last Sunday and told the organizers that Brown has been accused by a woman of inflicting injuries and threatening her. It turned out that the woman in question was no other than his girlfriend Rihanna, also a Grammy presenter and who also skipped the ceremony. And now, Brown has lost the Grammy and even Wrigley, his sponsor. But will he also lose Rihanna?

Celebrity Kim Kardashian filed her blog with entries on last Sunday’s no show show-offs and said the Grammy was not the same without Rihanna and Brown. Everyone was anticipating what would happen but pressure was on the organizers since they had to figure out how to fill in the presentation slots for the couple. Kardashian said she was looking forward to seeing them. The serious allegation against Brown irked Wrigleys who decided to suspend his advertisements. While they believe in affording Brown due process they decided to suspend Brown’s ads until the whole controversy is resolved.

Usher: another Grammy no show

What is it with last Sunday’s Grammy Awards. First there was the glaring absence of Rihanna and boyfriend Chris Brown who were both nominated performers during the night. Then came Usher, who was also set to perform at the Grammy Awards, who was a no show because of a serious illness in the family. Usher’s representatives said the singer is in a Brazilian hospital where his wife Tameka was suffering complications from routine surgery. The R&B superstar’s no-show was announced by record mogul Clive Davis during the pre-Grammy party held Saturday night.

There were rumors that the 37-year old Tameka died after undergoing plastic surgery. However, people close the couple said there was no truth to the report but that Tameka did suffer from cosmetic surgery complications. Tameka just gave birth to their second child last December named Naveid Ely after they got married in August 2007. Their first child is named Usher Raymond V while Tameka has three sons by her former marriage.

2009 Grammy Awards winners

Who were the night big winners at The 51st Annual Grammy Awards?
Here’s the complete list of winners:

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
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo
Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows, Radiohead

Song of the Year
American Boy, Estelle feat. Kanye West
Chasing Pavements, Adele
I’m Yours, Jason Mraz
Love Song, Sarah Bareilles
Viva La Vida, Coldplay

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Kid Rock, All Summer Long,
John Mayer, Say
Paul McCartney, That Was Me
Jason Mraz, I’m Yours
Ne-Yo, Closer
James Taylor, Wichita Lineman

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele, Chasing Pavements
Sara Bareilles, Love Song
Duffy, Mercy
Leona Lewis, Bleeding Love
Katy Perry, I Kissed a Girl
Pink, So What

Best New Artist
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Coldplay, Viva La Vida
Eagles, Waiting in the Weeds
Gnarls Barkley, Going On
Maroon 5, Won’t Go Home Without You
One Republic, Apologize

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Alicia Keys & John Mayer, Lesson Learned
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland, Four Minutes
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Rich Woman
Rihanna & Maroon 5, If I Never See Your Face Again
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown, No Air

Best Pop Instrumental Album
Sax For Stax, Gerald Albright
Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One, Larry Carlton
Jingle All The Way, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
The Spice Of Life, Earl Klugh
A Night Before Christmas, Spyro Gyra

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere, Love Appetite
Eagles, I Dreamed There Was No War
Fourplay, Fortune Teller
Stanley Jordan, Steppin’ Out
Marcus Miller, Blast!

Best Pop Vocal Album
Detours, Sheryl Crow
Rockferry, Duffy
Long Road Out Of Eden, Eagles
Spirit, Leona Lewis
Covers, James Taylor

Best Dance Recording
Harder Better Faster Stronger, Daft Punk
Ready for the Flow, Hot Chip
Just Dance, Lady Gaga & Colby O’Donis
Give It 2 Me, Madonna
Disturbia, Rihanna
Black & Gold, Sam Sparro

Best Electronic or Dance Album
New York City, Brazilian Girls
Alive 2007, Daft Punk
Bring Ya to the Brink, Cyndi Lauper
X, Kylie Minogue
Last Night, Moby
Robyn, Robyn

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Still Unforgettable, Natalie Cole
The Sinatra Project, Michael Feinstein
Noël, Josh Groban
In The Swing Of Christmas, Barry Manilow
Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall, Rufus Wainwright

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
John Mayer, Gravity
Paul McCartney, I Saw Her Standing There
Bruce Springsteen, Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Eddie Vedder, Rise
Neil Young, No Hidden Path

Best Metal Performance
DragonForce, Heroes Of Our Time
Judas Priest, Nostradamus
Metallica, My Apocalypse
Ministry, Under My Thumb
Slipknot, Psychosocial

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
AC/DC, Rock N Roll Train
Coldplay, Violet Hill
Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden
Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire
Radiohead, House of Cards

Best Hard Rock Performance
Disturbed, Inside The Fire
Judas Priest, Visions
The Mars Volta, Wax Simulacra
Mötley Crüe, Saints of Los Angeles
Rob Zombie, Lords of Salem

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
David Gilmour, Castellorizon
Metallica, Suicide & Redemption
Nine Inch Nails, 34 Ghosts I-IV
Rush, Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace)
Zappa Plays Zappa, Peaches En Regalia

Best Rock Song
Girls in Their Summer Clothes, Bruce Springsteen
House Of Cards, Radiohead
I Will Possess Your Heart, Death Cab For Cutie
Sex On Fire, Kings of Leon
Violet Hill, Coldplay

Best Rock Album
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Coldplay
Rock N Roll Jesus, Kid Rock
Only By The Night, Kings of Leon
Death Magnetic, Metallica
Consolers Of The Lonely, The Raconteurs

Best Alternative Music Album
Modern Guilt, Beck
Narrow Stairs, Death Cab for Cutie
The Odd Couple, Gnarls Barkley
Evil Urges, My Morning Jacket
In Rainbows, Radiohead

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
Kenna, Say Goodbye to Love
Maiysha, Wanna Be
Chrisette Michele feat. will.i.am, Be OK
Janelle Monae, Many Moons
Wayna feat. Kokayi, Lovin You (Music)

Best R&B Song
Bust Your Windows, Jazmine Sullivan
Customer, Raheem DeVaughn
Heaven Sent, Keyshia Cole
Miss Independent, Ne-Yo
Spotlight, Jennifer Hudson

Best R&B Album
Love & Life, Eric Benet
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

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Growing Pains, Mary J. Blige
Back Of My Lac’, J. Holiday
First Love, Karina
Year Of The Gentleman, Ne-Yo
Fearless, Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Eric Benét, You’re The Only One
Chris Brown, Take You Down
Ne-Yo, Miss Independent
Trey Songz, Can’t Help But Wait
Usher, Here I Stand

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé, Me, Myself And I
Keyshia Cole, Heaven Sent
Jennifer Hudson, Spotlight
Alicia Keys, Superwoman
Jazmine Sullivan, Need U Bad

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Boyz II Men, Ribbon In The Sky
Anthony David feat. India.Arie, Wordsl
Al Green feat. John Legend, Stay With Me (By The Sea)
Jennifer Hudson feat. Fantasia, I’m His Only Woman
Raphael Saadiq feat. Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton, Never Give You Up

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Wayne Brady, A Change Is Gonna Come
Al Green feat. Anthony Hamilton, You’ve Got The Love I Need
(Linda Jones) With Helen Bruner & Terry Jones, Baby I Know
Raphael Saadiq, Love That Girl
Jazmine Sullivan, In Love With Another Man

Best Rap Solo Performance
Jay-Z, Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)…
Lil Wayne, A Milli
Lupe Fiasco, Paris, Tokyo
Nas, N.i.-.-.e.r. (The Slave And The Master)
Snoop Dogg, Sexual Eruption

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
Big Boi feat. Raekwon And Andre 3000, Royal Flush
Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne, Swagga Like Us
Lil Wayne feat. Jay-Z, Mr. Carter
Ludacris feat. T.I., Wish You Would
Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West, Put On

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Estelle feat. Kanye West, American Boy
Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, Low
John Legend & Andre 3000, Green Light
Lil Wayne feat. T-Pain, Got Money
Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos, Superstar

Best Rap Song
Lollipop, Lil Wayne feat. Static Major
Low, Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Sexual Eruption, Snoop Dogg
Superstar, Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos
Swagga Like Us, Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne

Best Rap Album
American Gangster, Jay-Z
Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
The Cool, Lupe Fiasco
Nas, Nas
Paper Trail, T.I.

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Martina McBride, For These Times
LeAnn Rimes, What I Cannot Change
Carrie Underwood, Last Name
Lee Ann Womack, Last Call
Trisha Yearwood, This Is Me You’re Talking To

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Trace Adkins
, You’re Gonna Miss This
Jamey Johnson, In Color
James Otto, Just Got Started Lovin’ You
Brad Paisley, Letter To Me
George Strait, Troubadour

Best Country Song
Dig Two Graves, Randy Travis
I Saw God Today, George Strait
In Color, Jamey Johnson
Stay, Sugarland
You’re Gonna Miss This, Trace Adkins

Best 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

4 Grammy Awards for Alison Krauss and Robert Plant

The unorthodox partnership of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant has yielded astonishing results in the sense that we the duo did not expect to capture 4 Grammy Awards at the gala event held on Sunday February 8. The duo grabbed 4 Grammys for their haunting album ‘Raising Sand’ with awards such as Album of the Year and Record of the Year.

Robert Plant a former member of the band Led Zeppelin and Krauss, a bluegrass queen seemed a little out of the blue sort of thing but when the album produced by T Bone Burnett was released it received world-wide critical acclaim and that highlighted the enormous talent of the two versatile artists.

No wonder that’s the reason the Alison Krauss happens to be the most celebrated and successful artist in the history of the Grammy Awards, versatile is a word that a lot many other artist too can stake a claim to but she is a rare talent and such precious gems a one in a million.

I firmly believe that Krauss should experiment a lot more without fearing for success or failure.

2009 Grammy Awards Nominees

The nominations were announced in a live television special on Wednesday night for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. 2009 Grammy Award will take place on February 8, 2009.

Lil Wayne had the most nominations with eight. Coldplay was close seven nods, while Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, and Kanye West each had six.

List for 2009 Grammy Awards Nominees:

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

Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Coldplay

Tha Carter III
Lil Wayne

Year Of The Gentleman
Ne-Yo

Raising Sand
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

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, songwriters (Adele)

I’m Yours
Jason Mraz, songwriter (Jason Mraz)

Love Song
Sara Bareilles, songwriter (Sara Bareilles)

Viva La Vida
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)

Best New Artist

Adele

Duffy

Jonas Brothers

Lady Antebellum

Jazmine Sullivan

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Chasing Pavements
Adele

Love Song
Sara Bareilles

Mercy
Duffy

Bleeding Love
Leona Lewis

I Kissed A Girl
Katy Perry

So What
Pink

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

All Summer Long
Kid Rock

Say
John Mayer

That Was Me
Paul McCartney

I’m Yours
Jason Mraz

Closer
Ne-Yo

Wichita Lineman
James Taylor

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Viva La Vida
Coldplay

Waiting In The Weeds
Eagles

Going On
Gnarls Barkley

Won’t Go Home Without You
Maroon 5

Apologize
OneRepublic

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Lesson Learned
Alicia Keys & John Mayer

4 Minutes
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland

Rich Woman
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

If I Never See Your Face Again
Rihanna & Maroon 5

No Air
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Love Appetite
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere

I Dreamed There Was No War
Eagles

Fortune Teller
Fourplay

Steppin’ Out
Stanley Jordan

Blast!
Marcus Miller

Best Pop Instrumental Album

Sax For Stax
Gerald Albright

Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One
Larry Carlton

Jingle All The Way
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones

The Spice Of Life
Earl Klugh

A Night Before Christmas
Spyro Gyra

Best Pop Vocal Album

Detours
Sheryl Crow

Rockferry
Duffy

Long Road Out Of Eden
Eagles

Spirit
Leona Lewis

Covers
James Taylor

Best Dance Recording

Harder Better Faster Stronger
Daft Punk
Thomas Bangalter & Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, producers; Thomas Bangalter & Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, mixers

Ready For The Floor
Hot Chip
Hot Chip, producers; Dan Carey, mixer

Just Dance
Lady Gaga & Colby O’Donis
RedOne, producer; Robert Orton, mixer

Give It 2 Me
Madonna
Madonna & The Neptunes, producers; Andrew Coleman & Spike Stent, mixers

Disturbia
Rihanna
Brian Kennedy, producer; Phil Tan, mixer

Black & Gold
Sam Sparro
Jesse Rogg & Sam Sparro, producers; Jeremy Wheatley, mixer

Best Electronic/Dance Album

New York City
Brazilian Girls

Alive 2007
Daft Punk

Bring Ya To The Brink
Cyndi Lauper

X
Kylie Minogue

Last Night
Moby

Robyn
Robyn

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Still Unforgettable
Natalie Cole

The Sinatra Project
Michael Feinstein

Noël
Josh Groban

In The Swing Of Christmas
Barry Manilow

Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall
Rufus Wainwright

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

Gravity
John Mayer

I Saw Her Standing There
Paul McCartney

Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen

Rise
Eddie Vedder

No Hidden Path
Neil Young

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Rock N Roll Train
AC/DC

Violet Hill
Coldplay

Long Road Out Of Eden
Eagles

Sex On Fire
Kings Of Leon

House Of Cards
Radiohead

Best Hard Rock Performance

Inside The Fire
Disturbed

Visions
Judas Priest

Wax Simulacra
The Mars Volta

Saints Of Los Angeles
Mötley Crüe

Lords Of Salem
Rob Zombie

Best Metal Performance

Heroes Of Our Time
DragonForce

Nostradamus
Judas Priest

My Apocalypse
Metallica

Under My Thumb
Ministry

Psychosocial
Slipknot

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

Castellorizon
David Gilmour

Suicide & Redemption
Metallica

34 Ghosts I-IV
Nine Inch Nails

Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace)
Rush

Peaches En Regalia
Zappa Plays Zappa

Best Rock Song

Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)

House Of Cards
Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Philip Selway & Thom Yorke, songwriters (Radiohead)

I Will Possess Your Heart
Benjamin Gibbard, Nicholas Harmer, Jason McGerr & Christopher Walla, songwriters (Death Cab For Cutie)

Sex On Fire
Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)

Violet Hill
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)

Best Rock Album

Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Coldplay

Rock N Roll Jesus
Kid Rock

Only By The Night
Kings Of Leon

Death Magnetic
Metallica

Consolers Of The Lonely
The Raconteurs

Best Alternative Music Album

Modern Guilt
Beck

Narrow Stairs
Death Cab For Cutie

The Odd Couple
Gnarls Barkley

Evil Urges
My Morning Jacket

In Rainbows
Radiohead

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Me, Myself And I
Beyoncé

Heaven Sent
Keyshia Cole

Spotlight
Jennifer Hudson

Superwoman
Alicia Keys

Need U Bad
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

You’re The Only One
Eric Benét

Take You Down
Chris Brown

Miss Independent
Ne-Yo

Can’t Help But Wait
Trey Songz

Here I Stand
Usher

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Ribbon In The Sky
Boyz II Men

Words
Anthony David Featuring India.Arie

Stay With Me (By The Sea)
Al Green Featuring John Legend

I’m His Only Woman
Jennifer Hudson Featuring Fantasia

Never Give You Up
Raphael Saadiq Featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

A Change Is Gonna Come
Wayne Brady

You’ve Got The Love I Need
Al Green Featuring Anthony Hamilton

Baby I Know
(Linda Jones) With Helen Bruner & Terry Jones

Love That Girl
Raphael Saadiq

In Love With Another Man
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

Say Goodbye To Love
Kenna

Wanna Be
Maiysha

Be OK
Chrisette Michele Featuring will.i.am

Many Moons
Janelle Monae

Lovin You (Music)
Wayna Featuring Kokayi

Best R&B Song

Bust Your Windows
Salaam Remi & Jazmine Sullivan, songwriters (Deandre Way, songwriter) (Jazmine Sullivan)

Customer
I. Barias, Raheem DeVaughn, C. Haggins, K. Oliver & J. Smith, songwriters (Raheem DeVaughn)

Heaven Sent
Keyshia Cole, Jason Farmer & Alex Francis, songwriters (Keyshia Cole)

Miss Independent
M.S. Eriksen, T.E. Hermansen & S. Smith, songwriters (Ne-Yo)

Spotlight
Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Jennifer Hudson)

Best 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

Best Contemporary R&B Album

Growing Pains
Mary J. Blige

Back Of My Lac’
J. Holiday

First Love
Karina

Year Of The Gentleman
Ne-Yo

Fearless
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Rap Solo Performance

Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)…
Jay-Z

A Milli
Lil Wayne

Paris, Tokyo
Lupe Fiasco

N.i.*.*.e.r. (The Slave And The Master)
Nas

Sexual Eruption
Snoop Dogg

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

Royal Flush
Big Boi Featuring Raekwon And Andre 3000

Swagga Like Us
Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne

Mr. Carter
Lil Wayne Featuring Jay-Z

Wish You Would
Ludacris Featuring T.I.

Put On
Young Jeezy Featuring Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

American Boy
Estelle Featuring Kanye West

Low
Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain

Green Light
John Legend & Andre 3000

Got Money
Lil Wayne Featuring T-Pain

Superstar
Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos

Best Rap Song

Lollipop
D. Carter, S. Garrett, D. Harrison, J. Scheffer & R. Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major)

Low
T. Dillard, M. Humphrey & T-Pain, songwriters (Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain)

Sexual Eruption
Calvin Broadus, S. Lovejoy & D. Stewart, songwriters (Snoop Dogg)

Superstar
Lupe Fiasco & Soundtrakk, songwriters (Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos)

Swagga Like Us
D. Carter, S. Carter, Clifford Harris & Kanye West, songwriters (M. Arulpragasam, N. Headon, M. Jones, J. Mellor, T. Pentz & P. Simonon, songwriters) (Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne)

Best Rap Album

American Gangster
Jay-Z

Tha Carter III
Lil Wayne

The Cool
Lupe Fiasco

Nas
Nas

Paper Trail
T.I.

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

For These Times
Martina McBride

What I Cannot Change
LeAnn Rimes

Last Name
Carrie Underwood

Last Call
Lee Ann Womack

This Is Me You’re Talking To
Trisha Yearwood

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

You’re Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins

In Color
Jamey Johnson

Just Got Started Lovin’ You
James Otto

Letter To Me
Brad Paisley

Troubadour
George Strait

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

God Must Be Busy
Brooks & Dunn

Love Don’t Live Here
Lady Antebellum

Every Day
Rascal Flatts

Blue Side Of The Mountain
The SteelDrivers

Stay
Sugarland

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

Shiftwork
Kenny Chesney & George Strait

Killing The Blues
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

House Of Cash
George Strait & Patty Loveless

Life In A Northern Town
Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town

Let The Wind Chase You
Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban

Best Country Instrumental Performance

Sumatra
Cherryholmes

Two Small Cars In Rome
Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green

Sleigh Ride
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones

Is This America? (Katrina 2005)
Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby

Cluster Pluck
Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner

Best Country Song

Dig Two Graves
Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan, songwriters (Randy Travis)

I Saw God Today
Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby, songwriters (George Strait)

In Color
Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto, songwriters (Jamey Johnson)

Stay
Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland)

You’re Gonna Miss This
Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller, songwriters (Trace Adkins)

Best 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

Grammys Affected by Economy

Award shows and their after parties are suffering from the crappy economy. Several insiders are already complaining about the scaled-down and lack of record company parties after the Grammys. Warner Bros. is apparently out on the celebrations. An insider says “Sony BMG may do a little bash for 100 people, but it’s nothing on the scale of what they used to have. And if Universal does decide to do something, it will be really haphazard and last-minute.” A rep for Sony BMG said “In this economic climate, it’d be inappropriate to have a big gala. We’d prefer to funnel right into artists directly.”

Katy Perry Goes Celibate

This piece of news is so crazy that I’m still not over it even now. While most people’s New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight or quit smoking, controversial singer Katy Perry chooses to abstain from sex. In a recent interview with TV Guide, she said “I’ve actually taken a vow of celibacy this year. No kissing anyone. Just my cat, Kitty Purry.” Can someone sense the lie in this? I really doubt that this is true, coming from the singer who sang ‘I Kissed a Girl’. I bet that this is just some lame joke that the interviewer just didn’t get.

Kanye Talks Fans

Kanye West is on the February 2009 cover of Vibe. Apparently, the 31-year old Grammy winner wants less fans. He said “I made a decision. I wanna make popular music, but I want less fans. I want the freedom of having less fans. It’s like the freedom of having less money. If you have less money, you have less responsibility. It’s like Björk. If she wanted to pose naked, you’d be like, ‘Oh, that’s Björk.’ But if I wanted to pose naked, people would draw all type of things into it. I definitely feel like, in the next however many years, if I work out for two months, that I’ll pose naked. I break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture.”

Flabby Fergie

Fergie performed with Nelly at the MTV Video Music Japan on Saturday. Do you remember all those pregnancy rumors that came out after she announced that she was engaged? Well, there’s still no sign of a baby bump but there’s been substantial increase in her waist measurement. The singer is looking a bit soft in the middle if you ask me. There’s nothing wrong with that though. But considering that she shows off her tummy as part of her living, you would think she would at least make an effort and keep toned. Now her stomach matches her butter face.