MARY J BLIGE IS ON FIRE

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige has topped the nominations list for the 49th annual GrammyAwards.The Recording Academy announced the nominees the other day revealingt he R'n'B diva to be way ahead of her fellow nominees with eight nominations.The Red Hot Chili Peppers were her closest rival with six, James Blunt, theDixie Chicks, John Mayer, Danger Mouse, Prince, Rick Rubin, Will.i.am andJohn Williams received five, while Beyoncé Knowles, Bryan-Michael Cox,Gnarls Barkley, Israel Houghton, T.I and Justin Timberlake managed four nominations. Blige was nominated for best Female R'n'B vocal performance for 'Be WithoutYou' and faces competition from Beyoncé ('Ring The Alarm'), Mariah Carey('Don't Forget About Us'), Natalie Cole ('Day Dreaming') and India.Arie for('I Am Not My Hair'). Timberlake's 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' was nominated for the coveted Album ofthe Year category, against 'Taking The Long Way' by the Dixie Chicks, 'St.Elsewhere' by Gnarls Barkley, 'Continuum' by John Mayer and 'Stadium Arcadium' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Record of the Year nominees include 'Be Without You' by Mary J. Blige,'You're Beautiful' by James Blunt, 'Not Ready To Make Nice' by the Dixie Chicks, 'Crazy' by Gnarls Barkley and 'Put Your Records On' by British newcomer Corinne Bailey Rae. Bailey Rae is also nominated for best New Artist along side James Blunt,Chris Brown, British singer Imogen Heap and Carrie Underwood. Blige's album 'Breakthrough' - which scooped nine accolades at the Billboard Awards this week and two American Music Awards last month - is nominated for best R'n'B Album. It is up against Jamie Foxx's 'Unpredictable', India. Arie's 'Testimony: Vol.1, Life & Relationship'; Prince's '3121', and Lionel Richie's 'Coming Home'.The 49th Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from the Los Angeles Staples Centre on February 11 next year.The official Grammy kick-off party is being held on December 14 at JET nightclub at the Mirage in Las Vegas. The December bash will be hosted by Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx and will feature performances from Fergie, Josh Kelley and John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting.