Record of the Year

“Halo” (Beyoncé); “I Gotta Feeling” (Black Eyed Peas); “Poker Face” (Lady Gaga); “Use Somebody” (Kings of Leon); “You Belong With Me” (Taylor Swift)

Out of all the nominees, it seems quite clear to me that Lady Gaga has a huge chance of winning this category. She is one of the most unique musicians out there and continues to wow everyone with her diverse and plentiful ideas; all of her songs have become chart toppers. She has come a long way this past year, and “Poker face” is still dominating radio.



Album of the Year

Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King (Dave Matthews Band); The E.N.D. (Black Eyed Peas); The Fame (Lady Gaga); Fearless (Taylor Swift); I Am… Sasha Fierce (Beyoncé)

Miss Beyoncé is someone you do not want to mess with. Her music has become a movement, and she has gained an audience who will always choose her music over anyone else’s. As an inspirational and powerful woman of our generation, it would be ridiculous not to realize that every song and every lyric is for the people who have supported her since Destiny’s Child.



Song of the Year

“Poker Face” (Lady Gaga); “Pretty Wings” (Maxwell); “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (Beyoncé); “Use Somebody” (Kings of Leon); “You Belong With Me” (Taylor Swift)

This song might not have won at the MTV Video Music Awards last year, but it is the one song that unites women all over the place who are single and tries to help them embrace it. From Joe Jonas to Justin Timberlake, the song has become a phenomenon with its famous black leotard dance.



Best New Artist

Keri Hilson; MGMT; Silversun Pickups; The Ting Tings; Zac Brown Band

R&B artist Keri Hilson is one of the best new artists because she brings new flavor and a voice in music that is very rare nowadays. Like any other artist in this category, everyone has their differences, but for Hilson, her differences are what make her an even more amazing artist.



Best Pop Vocal Album

All I Ever Wanted (Kelly Clarkson); Breakthrough (Colbie Caillat); The E.N.D. (Black Eyed Peas); The Fray (The Fray); Funhouse (Pink)

The Black Eyed Peas have been around for years. In 2009, they came back with a huge change in their music and their image. Each of their songs has become a chart topper and is on the radio as much as possible. They are clearly a fan favorite.



Best Dance Recording

“Boom Boom Pow” (Black Eyed Peas); “Celebration” (Madonna); “Poker Face” (Lady Gaga); “When Love Takes Over” (David Guetta and Kelly Rowland); “Womanizer” (Britney Spears)

“Boom Boom Pow” is one of the most recognizable songs out there. It has a lot of rhymes and beats to keep you on your feet at any party as well as keep you up while driving home from school or work.



Best Electronic/Dance Album

Divided By Night (The Crystal Method); The Fame (Lady Gaga); One Love (David Guetta); Party Rock (LMFAO); Yes (Pet Shop Boys)

This was a big year for LMFAO. Their music was used as theme songs for shows on the E! Networks, and they proved to be a band that gets everyone moving.



Best Rock Song

“21 Guns” (Green Day); “The Fixer” (Pearl Jam); “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” (U2); “Use Somebody” (Kings of Leon); “Working on a Dream” (Bruce Springsteen)

I saw the Kings of Leon at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards and fell completely in love with their music. Everywhere I went after that, their album was playing, and I have come to respect their music even more.



Best Rock Album

21st Century Breakdown (Green Day); Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King (Dave Matthews Band); Black Ice (AC/DC); Live from Madison Square Garden (Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood); No Line on the Horizon (U2)

No one thought it could be possible for Green Day to make an even bigger comeback after their American Idiot album reached the greatest heights in the industry. They proved that the 21st Century was the start of something new and the restoration of our faith in rock music.



Best Alternative Music Album

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (David Byrne & Brian Eno); It’s Blitz! (Yeah Yeah Yeahs); The Open Door (Death Cab for Cutie); Sounds of the Universe (Depeche Mode); Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Phoenix)

I fell in love with Death Cab for Cutie when I was addicted to “The O.C.," where they had performed. They were the first band I was exposed to that was alternative and introduced me to a lot more music out there in the world. This album is legendary because it challenges a lot of the band’s past hits and exceeded my expectations.



Best Rap Song

“Best I Ever Had” (Drake), “Day ’N’ Nite” (Kid Cudi); “Dead and Gone” (T.I. & Justin Timberlake); “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” (Jay-Z); “Run This Town” (Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West)

Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West are one of the most powerful trios who have come together, especially in the rap industry. Each artist has done so well on his/her own and were able to make this song an even bigger hit. Each has a unique style and voice, so bringing them together is like a system of checks and balances – if one thing is missing, the other filled in to make it better.



Best Rap Album

The Ecstatic (Mos Def); Relapse (Eminem); The Renaissance (Q-Tip); R.O.O.T.S. (Flo Rida); Universal Mind Control (Common)

Aside from the death of his 8 Mile costar, Brittany Murphy, a lot has happened this past year for Eminem, like the Bruno incident at the MTV Movie Awards. Last year, he also released this album with songs like “We Made You” – a parody of celebrities and their behaviors. He is a genius at what he does and takes it beyond what meets the eye.



The Grammy Awards will air Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. on CBS.