Top Grammy Contenders For 2006

Mariah Carey's comeback came full circle Dec. 8, 2005, as she was nominated for eight Grammys, including album of the year for "The Emancipation of Mimi" and song and record of the year for her torch ballad "We Belong Together."

Kanye West

Kanye West also was nominated for eight Grammys, including album of the year for "Late Registration" and song of the year for "Gold Digger."

John Legend

John Legend, a soul crooner, was the third star to get eight nominations, including one in the category of best new artist. "I feel incredible," said Legend, a West protege whose debut "Get Lifted" was a million-seller. "You put a lot of expectations into what you want the record to be."

U2

Perennial Grammy favorite U2 was nominated for five awards, including album of the year for "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb." Here's how they looked as winners at the Grammy ceremony on Feb. 27, 2002.

Gwen Stefani

"Hollaback Girl" was among the year's most popular songs, and it helped Gwen Stefani garner five Grammy nominations. Stefani's "Love. Angel. Music. Baby" was her debut apart from No Doubt and helped establish her as a solo superstar.

Stevie Wonder

At The Keyboard — GETTY IMAGES/Koichi Kamoshida

Stevie Wonder received multiple Grammy nominations. Releasing his first album in 10 years, "A Time to Love," he was nominated for six awards, including best R&B album.

50 Cent

50 Cent, who had the year's best-selling album with "The Massacre," was nominated for six awards, including best rap album, but none in major Grammy categories.

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen, with five nomnations, was among Grammy's. His "Devils & Dust" was nominated for song of the year, along with Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road," Legend's "Ordinary People," Carey's "We Belong Together" and U2's "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own."

Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce Knowles has six Grammy nominations this time around, including one in the category of female R&B vocal performance for "Wishing on a Star" and another in the category of R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for her duet with Stevie Wonder, "So Amazing."

Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott is a force to be reckoned with among nominees in the rap categories. She is up for five Grammys both as a songwriter and a performer, including a slot in the best rap album category for "The Cookbook."

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys received five Grammy nominations this year. In one of those categories, best female R&B vocal performance, her fellow nominees are Amerie, Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Fantasia. In another, best traditional R&B vocal performance, Carey and Fantasia are again among her competition (together with Aretha Franklin and John Legend).

Destiny's Child

Destiny's Child (Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams) picked up four Grammy nominations, including one in category of best contemporary R&B album for "Destiny Fulfilled."

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters (lead singer David Grohl shown at left) have four nominations, including one in the category of best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for "Best Of You."

Gretchen Wilson

Gretchen Wilson, shown at left with one of her trophies at the Academy of Country Music Awards last May, is up for four Grammys: best female country vocal performance, best country collaboration with vocals (with Merle Haggard), best country song (for co-writing "All Jacked Up"), and best country album ("All Jacked Up").