Beyoncé and Swift lead Grammy nominations
The 52d annual Grammy Awards will be a showdown between two self-described “Fierce’’ and “Fearless’’ ladies.
Nominations were announced Wednesday night and R&B and dance-pop diva Beyoncé was the leading contender with 10 nods associated with her third solo album, “I Am . . . Sasha Fierce.’’ Beyoncé, who enjoyed several big hits in 2009 including “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)’’ and “Halo,’’ received nominations in the R&B, pop, rap, and general fields.
Country-pop sensation Taylor Swift, whose sophomore release “Fearless’’ is the best-selling album of 2009, followed with eight.
The two women, who both released their albums in November 2008, will go head to head in the top three categories, record, song, and album of the year, as well as best female pop vocal performance.
Competition for Swift’s “You Belong With Me’’ and Beyoncé’s “Halo’’ in the record of the year category will come from flamboyant pop singer Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,’’ “Use Somebody’’ by rockers Kings of Leon, and the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling.’’
The hip-hop pop trio nabbed six nominations as did rapper Kanye West and recently resurfaced soul crooner Maxwell. Among those garnering five nominations were Gaga and Beyoncé’s husband, hip-hop heavyweight Jay-Z. Classic rocker Bruce Springsteen, country superstar Keith Urban, and Kings of Leon each received four nominations.
Competing for the best new artist trophy will be country group the Zac Brown Band, urban singer-songwriter Keri Hilson, electro-rockers MGMT, and modern-rock groups the Ting Tings and Silversun Pickups.
The Grammy voters were attuned to the top 40 this year as pop music dominated the major categories. Two of 2009’s biggest rock releases, Green Day’s “21st Century Breakdown’’ and U2’s “No Line on the Horizon,’’ were surprisingly snubbed in the top three categories. Both received nominations in the rock field, including best album. The Dave Matthews Band, however, did receive a nod in the album of the year category for “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.’’
For the second year in a row a portion of the announcements were made during an hour-long prime-time concert special on 
