Grammy nominees include Eminem, U2, Destiny's Child, more

Veterans, newcomers named for annual awards

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A hat-wearing country crooner, a heavy-rocking band and a performer who made the word "thong" a synonym for naughty behavior were among performers nominated Wednesday for Grammys as best new artist of the year.

At the same time, Madonna, U2 and other veterans continued their domination of the annual awards that celebrate excellence in music.

Shelby Lynne, Brad Paisley, Papa Roach, Jill Scott and Sisqo ("Thong Song") were nominated as best new artist as the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences announced its nominees for the 43rd annual Grammys.

The academy will announce the winners in a live ceremony February 21 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

An array of performers announced the nominees for a variety of awards, including album and song of the year; best male and female pop vocals; and best albums in the categories of rap, R&B and country. In all, they unveiled nominees in 12 categories.

VIDEO Artists announce nominations for the 43rd annual Grammys Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    MORE NOMINEES General Pop Rock R&B Rap Country Jazz Latin Gospel Blues/Folk Music Video New Age/World Music/Reggae   CHAT Transcript: CNN's Mark Scheerer on the Grammy Award nominations     ALSO Last year's nominees and winners

The nominations, announced in a brief ceremony about 8:30 a.m. PST in Los Angeles, pit competitors from across the musical spectrum.

Macy Gray will be facing off against veterans U2 in the best record category, while Paisley, whose bio photos show a young man with a big smile under a big cowboy hat, will compete against heavy-metal practitioners Papa Roach for best new artist.

The best record nominations also ran the musical gamut, including discs by Destiny's Child, Gray, Madonna, 'N Sync and U2.

The best album category featured an eclectic mix of artists, which included Beck, rapper Eminem, Radiohead, Paul Simon and Steely Dan.

In addition to his album of the year nomination, the controversial Eminem received three other nominations: best rap album and best rap solo performance for "The Real Slim Shady," and best rap performance by a duo or group for "Forget About Dre," which he performed with Dr. Dre.

The teen set made a good showing. Perpetual popster Britney Spears received a nomination for best vocal album, and did it again with a nod in the best female pop vocal performance category, a nomination that pits her against rival idol Christina Aguilera. 'N Sync received three nominations: best pop album, record of the year and best pop performance. Fellow boy band Backstreet Boys came away with just a nomination for best pop performance for a group.

Faith Hill picks up multiple nominations

Nominees for song of the year, which honors songwriting, included "Beautiful Day" by U2, written by U2; "Breathe" by Faith Hill, written by Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar; "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack, written by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sellers; "I Try" by Gray, written by Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzumna and David Wilder; and "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child, written by LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson and Kelendria Rowland.

It wasn't a bad day for country singer Hill. She reaffirmed her crossover appeal by snagging nominations for both song of the year and best country song for "Breathe," and received nominations for best female country vocal performance, best country album and best country collaboration with husband Tim McGraw for the duet "Let's Make Love."

Sheryl Crow was an announcer for the nominations, but also got a nod for best female rock performance for "There Goes the Neighborhood"

Rocker Sheryl Crow is no stranger to the Grammys, who won her first Grammy for best new artist in 1995 and has followed that with six more. But she expressed surprise at her nomination for best female rock performance for "There Goes the Neighborhood."

"It was an off year; I was shocked, " Crow said after the announcement.

There was no room for newcomers in the best male rock performance category, whose nominees included veterans Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Lenny Kravitz, Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie.

The academy will hand out Grammys in 100 categories at the February awards show, including two new ones: best Native American music album and best pop instrumental album.

The awards, the academy notes, are peer honors, given by and to artists and technical professionals for artistic or technical achievement, not for sales or chart positions.

Artists said they were pleased to be nominated, though some hardly blinked upon learning they were in the running for a Grammy. Lynne, who was on hand to announce nominees and heard her name called as a best new artist nominee, took the honor in stride.

"I'm not too nervous, but I think I'm about ready to go eat some breakfast," she said after the ceremony ended.

• "Say My Name," Destiny's Child
• "I Try," Macy Gray
• "Music," Madonna
• "Bye Bye Bye," 'N Sync
• "Beautiful Day," U2

• "Midnight Vultures," Beck
• "Marshall Mathers LP," Eminem
• "Kid A," Radiohead
• "You're the One," Paul Simon
• "Two Against Nature," Steely Dan

• "Beautiful Day," songwriters: U2 (U2)
• "Breathe," songwriters: Stephanie Bentley & Holly Lamar(Faith Hill)
• "I Hope You Dance," songwriters: Mark D. Sanders & Tia Sellers (Lee Ann Womack)
• "I Try," songwriters: Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzumna & David Wilder (Macy Gray)
• "Say My Name," songwriters: LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson & Kelendria Rowland (Destiny's Child)

• Shelby Lynne
• Brad Paisley
• Papa Roach
• Jill Scott
• Sisqo

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Grammy.com: The Recording Academy

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