LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Eminem, Evanescence, 50 Cent and OutKast were among the leading nominees for the 46th annual Grammy Awards, announced Thursday.
OutKast had the most nominations, six, which tied the duo with singer Beyonce, rap artist Jay-Z, and producer Pharrell Williams, who is part of the Neptunes producing team.
Missy Elliott, Eminem, Evanescence, 50 Cent, Chad Hugo, Ricky Skaggs, Justin Timberlake, Luther Vandross and the late Warren Zevon had five nominations each.
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” was nominated in two of the most prestigious categories, record of the year and song of the year. The latter is a songwriter’s award.
OutKast, whose “Hey Ya” has become a ubiquitous anthem in the latter half of 2003, was nominated for record of the year for that single, as well as album of the year for the double CD, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.”
“Get Rich or Die Tryin’ ” by 50 Cent, one of the best-selling albums of 2003, was nominated for best rap album. The artist was also on the list of best new artist nominees, along with Evanescence, a brooding band from Little Rock, Arkansas. Evanescence was also nominated for album of the year for its album “Fallen.”
• Other album of the year nominees are Missy Elliott (“Under Construction”), Justin Timberlake (“Justified”), and the White Stripes (“Elephant”).
• Record of the year nominees, aside from OutKast and Enimem, include Beyonce (“Crazy in Love,” featuring Jay-Z); the Black-Eyed Peas (“Where Is the Love”); and Coldplay (“Clocks”).
• Other song of the year nominees are “Beautiful,” performed by Christina Aguilera; “Dance with my Father,” by Vandross; “I’m with You” by Avril Lavigne; and “Keep Me in Your Heart,” by Zevon and Jorge Calderon.
Belated recognition
Best new artist was an intriguing category, including both Fountains of Wayne — whose “Welcome Interstate Managers” is the group’s third album — and Broadway diva Heather Headley, well known on the Great White Way for several years.
Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom” was nominated for best performance by a duo or group with vocal, along with songs by Bon Jovi, the Eagles, Matchbox 20 and No Doubt.
Presenter Moby got a chuckle when he suggested FOW should win for the song. He got a bigger rise from the crowd when announcing the nominees for best traditional pop album, introducing Barbra Streisand’s “The Movie Album” as “Barbra Streisand, how to defeat our current inept president.”
Veterans dominated the best R&B album category: Aretha Franklin, the Isley Brothers and Vandross all got nominated, as did Erykah Badu and Blu Cantrell.
Nominees for best rap album include Elliott, 50 Cent, OutKast, Jay-Z and the Roots.
The late Warren Zevon was nominated for five awards.
The Grammys will be awarded in 105 categories on Sunday, February 8, at the Staples Center arena in Los Angeles. The program will be broadcast live by CBS.