Beyonce, Timberlake Favorites To Take Grammys

[DudeAsInCool]

Beyonce, Timberlake favored for Grammys

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By Anthony Breznican

Dec. 4, 2003  |  BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- Rapper 50 Cent, pop singers Justin Timberlake and Beyonce and the hip-hop group OutKast were favorites to grab Grammy Award nominations this year.

Pop stars Moby, Sarah McLachlan and Dido were among a group of musicians Thursday set to announce the acts that had earned Grammy nods ahead of the 46th annual awards show.

Other performers planning to attend the nominations were Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Jason Mraz, Stacie Orrico, Brad Paisley, Pharrell Williams and singer Amy Lee of the band Evanescence.

This year's list of honorees were ranked in 105 categories, including the coveted album, record and song of the year awards. Other awards are presented in specialty categories ranging from rap, country, pop, rock and jazz to classical and even polka.

In addition to 50 Cent, Timberlake, Beyonce and OutKast, two recently deceased artists could also be up for major awards: Johnny Cash, who died Sept. 12 at age 71 of complications from diabetes, and Warren Zevon, who lost his yearlong fight against lung cancer at age 56 on Sept. 7.

Before their deaths, both released the songs "Hurt" and "Keep Me In Your Heart," respectively, that were filled with bittersweet reflections on mortality.

The Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 8 at the Staples Center arena in downtown Los Angeles, with CBS broadcasting the event live.

Nominations and winners are decided by voting members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The awards are designed to recognize artistic or technical achievement, not sales or chart positions.

Associated Press