Las Vegans get share of Grammy nods

LOS ANGELES

It's a song about being strung out on love, and the addiction is only likely to grow for Ne-Yo, the Las Vegas-raised R&B crooner who's got plenty to be affectionate about upon the announcement of the nominees for the 50th annual Grammy Awards.

The aforementioned title cut to Ne-Yo's latest disc, "Because of You," earned a nod for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, while the record itself is up for Best Contemporary R&B Album.

Ne-Yo, whose given name is Shaffer Smith and who attended high school at the Las Vegas Academy, also earned kudos for his duet with popster Rihanna on her hit "Hate That I Love You," which is up for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.

Elsewhere, Las Vegas rockers Panic! at the Disco scored a nomination for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for the box set edition of their hit debut album "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out," while the companion disc to Cirque du Soleil's Beatles-themed "Love" production is up for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media and Best Surround Sound Album.

Also, the Las Vegas-bound Bette Midler, who begins a two-year stint at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Feb. 20, scored a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for the disc "Cool Yule."

Earning the most nods Thursday was rapper Kanye West with eight nominations.

British singer Amy Winehouse received six nominations after months of personal problems that took the focus off her gritty, soulful music. Other top nominees included the Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Paul McCartney, T-Pain and Timbaland.

Both West and Winehouse were nominated for Album of the Year for their CDs "Graduation" and "Back to Black," respectively. Winehouse also was cited for Best New Artist, plus Record of the Year and Song of the Year for the defiant hit "Rehab."

Other Record of the Year candidates included Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable," the Foo Fighter's "The Pretender," Rihanna's "Umbrella" and "What Goes Around Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake.

Winehouse, an admitted marijuana smoker, has been dogged by reports of further drug use amid a flurry of canceled concert dates. Just this week she was spotted walking outside of her London home wearing a bra and jeans, with no shoes, looking distressed.

"She makes Lindsay Lohan look cool," comedian George Lopez said onstage as he helped announce the nominations.

In addition to West and Winehouse, the Album of the Year category also featured the Foo Fighters, for "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace," Vince Gill's four-disc set "These Days," -- and, surprisingly, Herbie Hancock's tribute to Joni Mitchell, "River: The Joni Letters."

Hancock, on hand to announce the nominees, said he was shocked.

"It's not a category you normally find a jazz artist," said Hancock, who said he had awakened that morning at 5:30 a.m. to chant Buddhist prayers for a half-hour. "I don't chant to win awards. ... But it helps my life. And I've never been nominated for album of the year."

Other Song of the Year candidates included Corinne Bailey Rae's sweet-sounding "Like A Star," Carrie Underwood's revenge anthem "Before He Cheats," The Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" and "Umbrella."

Winehouse was competing against Feist, Paramore, Taylor Swift and Ledisi in the Best New Artist category.

Review-Journal writer Jason Bracelin contributed to this report.