Lil’ Wayne Snags 8 Grammy Nominations

The prolific and ubiquitous rap MVP, who became pop’s biggest success in 2008 with his top-selling album Tha Carter III, was duly rewarded Wednesday with a leading eight nominations, including a coveted album of the year bid.

Although the New Orleans rapper – who has been nominated for Grammys before but has never taken home a trophy – was the leading nominee, he wasn’t the only big act to have a big night.

Following close behind during the Grammys’ first-ever nominations ceremony/concert combination was Coldplay, with seven nods. The Chris Martin-led British group’s Viva La Vida, one of the year’s best-selling CDs, is in album of the year contention along with Radiohead’s groundbreaking In Rainbows; singer-songwriter Ne-Yo’s Year of the Gentleman; and Robert Plant’s collaboration with Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.

Coldplay and Plant & Krauss were also nominated in the coveted record of the year category for the respective songs “Viva La Vida” and “Please Read the Letter.” Other record of the year nominees were British songstress Leona Lewis for “Bleeding Love”; another British newcomer, Adele, for “Chasing Pavements”; and M.I.A. for her breakthrough hit, “Paper Planes.”

Some surprising omissions: Katy Perry, who had one of the year’s biggest hits with “I Kissed a Girl,” was shut out of the top categories, including record of the year and best new artist. Still, she was excited about her nomination for female pop vocal performance: “I feel very grateful to be recognized by an institution of such iconic musical history. I can’t believe it, but this year I won’t be watching the Grammys in my jammies!” she said in a statement.

Metallica got three nominations, but their huge comeback record Death Magnetic didn’t get a nod for album of the year despite being a top seller in 2008.

Nominations were announced in a new format this year, with an hourlong CBS concert special that featured a brisk procession of performers and LL Cool J and Taylor Swift as hosts.

Though she hosted and performed, Swift, last year’s best new artist nominee, was shut out completely. The 18-year-old country artist has had a sensational year thanks to the continued success of her 2006 self-titled debut album and her latest top-selling CD, Fearless. While neither was eligible for consideration, her recent singles were.

While Tha Carter III was not regarded by critics as his greatest CD, it was the album that made the highly regarded rapper – who has been on the scene for more than a decade – a certified superstar, thanks to massive hits like “Lollipop” and “A Milli.” Lil Wayne not only rapped on his own hits but seemed to be on just about every urban act’s record, and that was reflected in his multiple nominations, some of which were for collaborations.

Tha Carter III was the only record this year to sell 1 million copies in its first week and is the year’s top seller with 2.7 million copies sold.

Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, its first album in three years, was also a huge hit; it has sold 1.9 million copies to date.

Radiohead’s In Rainbows didn’t break sales records, but it was as revolutionary as it was critically acclaimed. First released last fall in a pay-as-you wish format on the band’s Web site, In Rainbows was an instant viral sensation that shook up an industry struggling with its traditional business model (although Radiohead later released the album traditionally via a record label).

Plant linked up with Grammy darling and bluegrass artist Krauss for a CD that pushed both in different musical directions, while Ne-Yo, who has produced several smashes for other artists, had success with Year of the Gentleman.

“When I was putting it together, I was trying to do something that everybody could get into, as opposed to just my pop and R&B core group,” Ne-Yo, who got six nominations, said after the ceremony. “I was trying to do something that the world could enjoy and I think that the Grammy people paid attention to that.”

Also nominated were the Jonas Brothers for the best new artist category. While they have already released two CDs, their latest, A Little Bit Longer, was their biggest yet in their breakthrough year. The teen sensations join Duffy and Adele, both singers with a soul bent; singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan; and breakout country act Lady Antebellum.

Sullivan, who has drawn comparisons to Lauryn Hill with her hit “I Need You Bad,” had a stellar night, with five nominations. Other multiple nominees included Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West, who had six each; Krauss, who has numerous Grammy wins, got five nominations.

Another Grammy favorite, John Mayer, netted five as well, while Jennifer Hudson got four, including best R&B album for her self-titled CD.

The Recording Academy typically has announced nominations like most top awards shows, during a morning news conference. But in an era where awards shows are as commonplace as reality shows, even the top-tier events are finding it hard to stand out.

So they put on the prime-time event, included performances from past Grammy winners such as Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and the Foo Fighters.

Held at the Nokia Theatre, the show also celebrated the Saturday opening of the new Grammy Museum next door.

The Grammy Awards are scheduled for live broadcast on CBS on Feb 8. Last year’s show drew 17.2 million viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys and continuing the trend of shrinking awards-show audiences.