Mary J Blige leads the way with eight nominations for next year's 49th Grammy Awards to be held at the Staple Centre in Los Angeles on Febuary 12.

 
The RnB star swept the boards with nominations in no less than eight category including Record of the Year and Song of the Year but missed out on a nomination for best album with her The Breakthrough.

Promiscious, a collaboration between Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake is also up for an award.

Los Angeles rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers got six nominations, while English no mark James Blunt, country stars the Dixie Chicks, the pop legend Prince, classical whizz John Williams and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am earned five each.

In the same week it was announced the controversial Russell Brand would host the UK Brit Awards.