BV Entertainment Newswire: Mariah Carey, Kanye West, John Legend

Mariah Carey and Kanye West, with eight nominations each, are the ones to watch at "The 48th Annual Grammy Awards." The multi-platinum-selling artists were both nominated for Record of the Year and Album of the Year.

"Congratulations are due to the artists and staff whose extraordinary dedication made this happen," Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group said. Other artists who garnered nominations from the label include Ludacris, Fall Out Boy, the Killers, and label President Jay-Z, for his collaboration with rock group Linkin Park. "The range of our artists and musical fields covered at today's nominations are just further indications of the musical diversity at the heart of Island Def Jam Music Group," said Reid. The label boasts an impressive 23 nominations.

"I was out late last night at the Grammy Honors [dinner], so it was a little difficult having to wake up at 5 a.m. and be all chippy. But if you're going to get up that early, then this is the reason to do it," Carey told MTV. "It's truly been an amazing morning, and I'm really blessed to be making the music I love. My year has already been validated, but all these nominations really are incredible."

Carey's critically acclaimed comeback project, "The Emancipation of Mimi," has sold more than seven million copies worldwide. The singer/songwriter was seemingly put out to pasture by a much publicized split with Virgin Records in 2001, following the critical and commercial flop "Glitter" - the movie and the soundtrack.

West's critically acclaimed, double-platinum set, "Late Registration," follows his double-platinum debut, "The College Dropout," which brought him a record breaking 10 Grammy nominations and three awards last year.

West's protege John Legend also received eight nominations, including Best New Artist and Song of The Year for the ballad "Ordinary People." Another West associate, the rootsy rapper Common, grabbed four nods, including Best Rap Performance by a duo or group for "The Corner" featuring The Last Poets, and Best Rap Album for "BE." The Geffen Records-distributed album was released via West's Getting Out Our Dreams label, and debuted #1 on "Billboard's" Hip-Hop and R&B charts.

Other top nominees include multi-platinum acts 50 Cent, Beyonce Knowles, Will.I.Am of the hip-hop band the Black Eyed Peas, and evergreen genius Stevie Wonder, who had six nominations. Hip-hop superstar Missy Elliott and pop-soul wunderkind Alicia Keys each collected five.

"The 48th Annual Grammy Awards" will be held Feb 8, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and air on CBS from 8:00-11:30 p.m. (EST/PST). The voting deadline is Jan. 11, for members of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.