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Bush Bashing in Fashion at Grammy Nominations
War Critics Score Big on 49th Annual Grammy Noms Day

By Jeffrey Jolson-Colburn

For complete list of nominations, click here

HOLLYWOOD(rushprnews)12/08/2006 -- Critics of President Bush had a vindication day as Grammy nominations were revealed. Mary J. Blige, a lead performer on the "Vote or Die" tour this fall, led the balloting with eight noms, while the Dixie Chicks, once-scorned for anti-Bush remarks, had five nominations including record, song and album of the year.

Grammy voting echoed the national polls in November by honoring a new political sensibility. Former soldier and now five-time nominee James Blunt is the only other act besides the Chicks up for three of the top four awards including best new artist. He's known for his ballad "It's Beautiful, but sings anti-war lyrics as well.

John Mayer, who sings of war and social issues on "Continuum," which is in the running for best album. The song "I Need to Wake Up" from the Al Gore-narrated "An Inconvenient Truth" is up for best song from film or TV.

In what may mark a trend throughout awards season, the Grammy war-theme balloting also resembled early Oscar indicators in the film world. The National Board of Reviews tagged Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima" tells a story of WWII from the Japanese perspective. Five of the 15 Academy Award finalists for best documentary are anti-war films.

Other happy faces when the Grammy nominations were announced in Hollywood early Thursday morning included the Red Hot Chili Peppers with six kudos, and John Mayer, Prince, Will.i.am and John Williams with five each. Producers Danger Mouse and Rick Rubin also are up for a high five as they are featured on several albums each. Danger Mouse is also one-half of hit duo Gnarls Barkley whose "Crazy" topped charts all summer.

The Grammy Awards are to be aired live on CBS on February 11 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Often more than a billion people in 90 countries tune into the show as well.

"These nominations truly reflect a diverse and vibrant community of music makers and creators who represent some of the most remarkable music of the year," said Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy. "Once again, the Grammy Awards process has delivered a well-rounded group of excellent nominees, which promises music lovers a spectacular show filled with dynamic performances and "Grammy Moments" for our telecast."

In the General Field, nominees for Album Of The Year are Taking The Long Way by the Dixie Chicks, St. Elsewhere by Gnarls Barkley, Continuum by John Mayer, Stadium Arcadium by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake. Nominees for Record Of The Year are "Be Without You" (Mary J. Blige), "You're Beautiful" (James Blunt), "Not Ready To Make Nice" (Dixie Chicks), "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley), and "Put Your Records On" (Corinne Bailey Rae). The Best New Artist nominees are rock troubadour James Blunt, R&B singer Chris Brown, British singer/songwriter Imogen Heap, neo-soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae, and country singer Carrie Underwood.

This year's Song Of The Year nominees represent multiple genres from pop to R&B to country. Nominated songwriters include Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox and Jason Perry for "Be Without You" (performed by Mary J. Blige); Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson for "Jesus, Take The Wheel" (performed by Carrie Underwood); Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Dan Wilson for "Not Ready To Make Nice" (performed by the Dixie Chicks); John Beck, Steve Chrisanthou and Corinne Bailey Rae for "Put Your Records On" (performed by Corinne Bailey Rae); and James Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sacha Skarbek for "You're Beautiful" (performed by James Blunt).

Earning five of her eight nominations in the R&B Field, Mary J. Blige dominates the Field. Among her nods, in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category she earned a nomination for "Be Without You," along with Beyoncé ("Ring The Alarm"), Mariah Carey ("Don't Forget About Us"), Natalie Cole ("Day Dreaming") and India.Arie ("I Am Not My Hair"). In the Best R&B Album category, her Breakthrough album vies with Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable; India.Arie's Testimony: Vol .1, Life & Relationship; Prince's 3121 and Lionel Richie's Coming Home. Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals nods go to George Benson & Al Jarreau for "Breezin'"; Jamie Foxx featuring Mary J. Blige for "Love Changes"; Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert, Yolanda Adams & Carl Thomas for "Everyday (Family Reunion)"; John Legend & Joss Stone with Van Hunt for "Family Affair" (Sly & The Family Stone); and Prince & Támar for "Beautiful, Loved And Blessed."

In the Pop Field, nominations for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal went to The Black Eyed Peas for "My Humps"; Death Cab For Cutie for "I Will Follow You Into The Dark"; The Fray for "Over My Head (Cable Car)"; Keane for "Is It Any Wonder?"; and the Pussycat Dolls for "Stickwitu." Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals nods go to Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder for "For Once In My Life"; Mary J. Blige & U2 for "One"; Sheryl Crow & Sting for "Always On Your Side"; Nelly Furtado & Timbaland for "Promiscuous"; and Shakira & Wyclef Jean for "Hips Don't Lie." And the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album include Back To Basics by Christina Aguilera, Back To Bedlam by James Blunt, The River In Reverse by Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint, Continuum by John Mayer, and FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Raconteurs, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Neil Young earned nominations in the Rock Field. Vying for Best Rock Album are the John Mayer Trio's Try!; Tom Petty's Highway Companion; the Raconteurs' Broken Boy Soldiers; Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium; and Neil Young's Living With War. Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal nominees are Coldplay with "Talk," the Fray for "How To Save A Life," the Raconteurs for "Steady, As She Goes," Red Hot Chili Peppers for "Dani California" and U2 & Green Day for "The Saints Are Coming." And Best Rock Solo Vocal Performance nominees are Beck ("Nausea"), Bob Dylan ("Someday Baby"), John Mayer ("Route 66"), Tom Petty ("Saving Grace") and Neil Young ("Lookin' For A Leader").

In the Rap Field, Missy Elliott competes with male rappers in the Best Rap Solo Performance category with "We Run This." Other nominations in this category are "Touch It" by Busta Rhymes, "Kick, Push" by Lupe Fiasco, "Undeniable" by Mos Def and "What You Know" by T.I. In the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, nominations go to Akon featuring Eminem ("Smack That"), Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z ("Deja Vu"), Eminem featuring Nate Dogg ("Shake That"), Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris ("Unpredictable") and Justin Timberlake featuring T.I. ("My Love").

The Dixie Chicks earn two of their five nominations in the Country Field. In the Best Country Album category, their Taking The Long Way is nominated along with Like Red On A Rose by Alan Jackson, The Road To Here by Little Big Town, You Don't Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker by Willie Nelson and Your Man by Josh Turner. For Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready To Make Nice" is up against the Duhks' "Heaven's My Home," Little Big Town's "Boondocks," Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts The Most," and the Wreckers' "Leave The Pieces." Nods for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals go to Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles for "Who Says You Can't Go Home," Solomon Burke & Dolly Parton for "Tomorrow Is Forever," Kenny Rogers & Don Henley for "Calling Me," Rhonda Vincent & Bobby Osborne for "Midnight Angel" and Trisha Yearwood & Garth Brooks for "Love Will Always Win."

Complete list of nominees can be found at www.hollywoodtoday.net.

Hollywood Today Publisher & Editor-in-chief Jeffrey Jolson-Colburn is an award-winning writer and editor and has launched several well-known entertainment publications, both in print and online. He served as Publisher & Editor-in-chief of national print publications “Grammy Magazine,” “Grammy Latino,” “Rock Magazine,” and “Woodstock” and was a longtime editor for “The Hollywood Reporter.”  In the Internet area, he has helped launch and been Editor of million-hit websites including “HollywoodReporter.com,” “Grammy.com,” “Woodstock.com” and others. He was also one of the first reporters for “EOnline.com” and recently served as Editor-in-chief of “Inside Hollywood.”  His first online publication, for “The Hollywood Reporter,” predated the Internet itself. Clips of his articles from outlets including the “Boston Globe,” “San Francisco Chronicle,” “Billboard,” “Rolling Stone,” “TV Guide,” “Us Magazine,” etc.  can be found on the Internet.

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