GRAMMY Award Nominees Announced Tonight on CBS Special

CNN reports that tonight Wednesday, December 3rd, the Recording Academy, the organization that presents the Grammy Awards will present a live prime-time concert special, "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! -- Countdown to Music's Biggest Night."

The show, which airs at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, is set to showcase a number of the biggest names in the business, including Mariah Carey, John Mayer, the Foo Fighters and young superstar in the making Taylor Swift.

During the show, hosts LL Cool J and Taylor Swift herself will announce the nominees for a handful of the Grammys' 100-plus categories, with the remainder released after the concert at 10 p.m. ET. Of course the big news for the theater world will be what Broadway related shows will ace a nomination, will Gypsy get a nod? We'll just have to wait and see.

Grammy possibilities include Coldplay, whose latest album, "Viva La Vida," earned strong sales and favorable reviews; Lil Wayne, whose "Tha Carter III" featured three Top 10 singles, including the No. 1 "Lollipop"; and newcomer Leona Lewis, a British TV talent show winner whose debut album, "Spirit," went to No. 1 in several countries, including the United States reveals the CNN website.

According to The Associated Press, Neil Portnow, the president and chief executive of the Recording Academy, described the televised concert as "an opportunity to have more music on television and ... really bring the ultimate amount of attention to the beginning of Grammy season. It's a more grand way to initiate Grammy season for us."

Photo of LL Cool J by Peter James Zielinksi