Can a boatload of Grammy nominations help save Amy Winehouse? Let’s hope so.
With the ballots set to be announced Thursday morning, Winehouse and her breakthrough album “Back to Black” (Universal) should be among the top nominees – with a shot at nods in the top four categories and possibly another three in the pop and hip-hop categories. (Her “You Know I’m No Good” remix with Ghostface Killah seems like a shoo-in for best rap/sung collaboration.)
Will her tabloid exploits – the rehab, the run-ins with the law, the tour cancellations – derail her Grammy chances? We’ll find out Thursday.
Her competition for top honors will likely come from Bruce Springsteen, sales champ Daughtry and possibly Fergie or Akon. Look for country teen phenom Taylor Swift and Winehouse’s less tabloid-challenged U.K. compatriot Lily Allen to do well too.
Check my shot-in-the-dark guesses at the nominees in the top categories after the jump.
Record of the Year
Beyonce, "Irreplaceable"
Alicia Keys, "No One"
Gwen Stefani feat. Akon, “The Sweet Escape”
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, "Umbrella"
Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"
(Other possibilities: Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats,” Bruce Springsteen, “Radio Nowhere,” Fergie, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”)
Album of the Year
Daughtry, "Daughtry"
Linkin Park, "Minutes to Midnight"
Bruce Springsteen, "Magic"
Kanye West, "Graduation"
Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"
(OTHER POSSIBILITIES: Robin Thicke, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke")
Song of the Year
"Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood; songwriters, J. Kear and C. Tompkins
"No One," Alicia Keys; songwriters, K. Brothers, Jr., G. M. Harry and A. Keys
"Radio Nowhere," Bruce Springsteen; songwriter, B. Springsteen
"Rehab," Amy Winehouse; songwriter A. Winehouse
"Umbrella, Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart (Rihanna f/ Jay-Z)
(OTHER POSSIBILITIES: "Big Girls Don't Cry," Fergie; "Irreplaceable," Beyonce)
Best New Artist
Lily Allen
Daughtry
Feist
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse
(OTHER POSSIBILITIES: Plain White T's, Sean Kingston)