Grammy Awards 2011: A Look At Local Nominees

Lady Gaga

This Yonkers-born sensation started her 'monstrous' career performing on the Lower East Side. Now, she's up for six Grammys, including Album of the Year for her sophomore album The Fame Monster. We're taking bets on which section of the food pyramid her red carpet get-up will come from.

John Mayer

The infamous hunk with the guitar was born and raised in Connecticut. (He also spends time at his apartment in SoHo, so keep your eyes peeled). Mayer's heartbreaking skills have often made for some fabulous tabloid fodder, but his nominations this year are in thanks to his melt-worthy vocals—he's up for three awards, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his song Half of My Heart, which he performs with Taylor Swift.

Norah Jones

Talk about sticking to your roots. Even though Jones moved away from Brooklyn as a child, she later came back to NYC to become a recording artist. Clearly, she made the right choice—her recording of Chasing Pirates on of her fourth album The Fall, is up for the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance award this year.

Dave Matthews

Guess where world-renowned musician, Dave Matthews, attended his first concert? That's right—Dave's mother took him to see Pete Seeger perform in the Big Apple years ago. Nothing like some New York inspiration to jumpstart an incredibly successful music career. Dave Matthews' and Tim Reynolds' collaboration of Kundalini Bonfire on the Live in Las Vegas album is now up for the Best Rock Instrumental Performance of 2010.

Jay-Z

Not only is Empire State of Mind an unofficial anthem for proud New Yorkers (not to mention A-Rod's "at-bat" song), it's up for Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Only a true New Yorker, like the Brooklyn-born Jay-Z himself, could make this possible.

Alicia Keys

Soulful songstress Alicia Keys is nominated with Jay-Z for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song for Empire State Of Mind. The 31-year-old beauty has won a total of 12 Grammys since her debut in 2001 when she released her first major album, Songs In A Minor.

Kelly Price

Miss Price, born and raised in Queens, made a name for herself by singing backup vocals for big-names like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. And look at her now—Price's song Tired is up for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, marking her fourth-ever Grammy nomination.

Dr. Luke

Dr. Luke's career began 'live from New York' as a member of the SNL band. He went from playing guitar to playing a major role in the success of many of today's big artists, including Katy Perry, Ke$ha and Adam Lambert. It's no surprise that Doc is up for two Grammys this year—Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Album of the Year (Teenage Dream by Katy Perry).

Faith Evans

Before the R&B singer hit it big in LA, it all started in her hometown of Newark, N.J. Faith had begun singing in her church choir at the ripe age of two. Fast forward to 2011 and this Garden State gal is a nominee for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her track Gone Already.

Barbra Streisand

We wonder if Barbra Streisand yawned when she heard her album Love is the Answer was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. She's been nominated for so many Grammys (57, to be exact) she's been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame—three times. And we're proud to say she was born right here in Brooklyn.

For the latest on the 53rd Grammy Awards and all your favorite celebs, follow us on Twitter!

Brooke Sager is a New York City-based freelance writer specializing in fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. She blogs at HIHEELZ.