Los Angeles – Mary J. Blige, whose album “The Breakthrough” was perhaps the biggest in her career, was nominated for a leading eight Grammy Awards on Thursday, including R&B album, record and song of the year. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were also multiple nominees, garnering six.
Other multiple nominees were the Dixie Chicks, British newcomer James Blunt, John Mayer, Prince and the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am.
R&B veteran Blige was nominated for record of the year for “Be Without You” and song of the year for the same track.
“That’s a beautiful thing, that I’m still going,” Blige, 35, said. “‘The Breakthrough’ is about triumph, about not being a victim but being a victor.”
Nominees for album of the year included the Dixie Chicks’ “Taking the Long Way,” Gnarls Barkley’s “St. Elsewhere,” Mayer’s “Continuum,” Justin Timberlake’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Stadium Arcadium.”
Colorado band the Fray received two nominations (see related story). Other musicians with Colorado connections also received nominations.
Denver indie band DeVotchKa was nominated for its hefty role in the “Little Miss Sunshine” soundtrack, which is up for the best compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual media. Denver native India.Arie was nominated in three R&B categories; Boulder’s Silver Wave Records released Mary Youngblood’s “Dance With the Wind,” nominated for best Native American music album; and Patrick Mason, a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, was nominated for best classical vocal performance for “Songs of Amy Beach.”
Corinne Bailey Rae, a pop-soul singer from Britain, was nominated for best new artist but was a surprise for record and song of the year for “Put Your Records On.” Other nominees for record of the year were Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful,” Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice.”
The 49th Grammy Awards are slated to air live on CBS on Feb. 11.
