Singer Mary J. Blige pauses while celebrating during a news conference for the 49th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, December 7. Blige, dubbed the 'Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul' for her impassioned style, led the contenders for the Grammy Awards with eight nominations. - REUTERS

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters):

R&B singer, Mary J. Blige, known as the 'Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul' for her impassioned style, led the contenders for the Grammy Awards, picking up eight nominations, organisers said on yesterday.

Los Angeles rock band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, landed six nominations for the music industry's biggest awards, including the coveted Album of the Year award.

Among acts with five nominations each were English singer/songwriter, James Blunt; country trio, Dixie Chicks; pop singer, John Mayer; funk veteran, Prince; producer Rick Rubin; Black Eyed Peas singer, will.i.am; producer Danger Mouse of the duo Gnarls Barkley; and composer, John Williams.

Blige, 35, is riding high on her current album, The Breakthrough, which has sold more than six million copies worldwide. It was not nominated for Album of the Year, but the three-time Grammy-winner was cited in such key categories as Record and Song of the Year.

Rock veterans, Red Hot Chili Peppers, who won their solitary Grammy in 1993, will compete for Album of the Year (Stadium Arcadium) alongside Dixie Chicks (Taking the Long Way), Mayer (Continuum), and a pair of four-time nominees, Gnarls Barkley (St. Elsewhere) and Justin Timberlake (FutureSex/ LoveSounds).

Trying years

The Dixie Chicks' nominations come after a trying few years resulting from disparaging remarks singer Natalie Maines made about U.S. President George W. Bush during a London concert in March 2003, days before the Iraq war started. Their popularity slid among country music fans, and sales for their album were slow. Their album's unrepentant single, Not Ready to Make Nice, was nominated for both Song and Record of the Year.

Their album and the Chili Peppers' album were produced by Rick Rubin, the man responsible for resurrecting the career of Johnny Cash. The late country music icon was a notable absentee among Grammy nominees despite the acclaim for a recent chart-topping album. Another Grammys favourite, Bob Dylan, was also shut out of the major categories, with his recent No. 1 album yielding just two nominations.

Other acts with four nominations each included R&B singer, Beyoncé; producer Bryan Michael Cox; gospel artiste, Israel Houghton, and rapper, T.I.

Contenders for Best New Artiste are Blunt, and fellow British singers, Imogen Heap and Corinne Bailey Rae; 'American Idol' winner, Carrie Underwood; and R&B singer, Chris Brown.

Blunt, 34, whose ballad, You're Beautiful, was ubiquitous this year, told Reuters, "The Grammys is a pretty phenomenal institution ... so to have my name associated with it is a great honour."

British acts

It is rare for three British acts to compete for Best New Artiste, which possibly suggests that American music fans are becoming less "provincial," said Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which organizes the event. Nominees and winners are determined by the academy's members, who are music industry professionals.

The artistes nominated for Record of the Year - which goes to the performer and producers — were Blige (Be Without You), Blunt (You're Beautiful), Dixie Chicks (Not Ready to Make Nice), Gnarls Barkley (Crazy), and Corinne Bailey Rae (Put Your Records On).

The Blige, Blunt, Dixie Chicks and Rae songs will compete for Song of the Year - a songwriter's award - alongside Underwood's Jesus, Take the Wheel.

In the Reggae Category, there are five nominations for Best Reggae Album (Vocal or Instrumental)

They are:

Too Bad - Buju Banton

Love Is My Religion - Ziggy Marley

Youth - Matisyahu

Rhythm Doubles - Sly & Robbie

Who You Fighting For - UB40

The 49th annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Centre, in Los Angeles, on February 11.