Stevie Wonder received six nominations, including Best R&B Album for his first effort in a decade, A Time to Love. And Bruce Springsteen was tapped for five awards for his acoustic album, Devils & Dust, including Song of the Year for the politically tinged title track.
And another diva returning to form is Fiona Apple, whose new album, Extraordinary Machine, has been met with much critical acclaim after the young singer-songwriter's several years out of the spotlight. Apple is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.
The last of the big three categories, Song of the Year (which goes to the songwriter -- Record of the Year honors the recording artist), includes Carey's "We Belong Together" (by Carey, Jermaine Dupri, J. Austin and M. Seal), U2's "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," Springsteen's "Devils & Dust," Legend's "Ordinary People" (by W. Adams and J. Stephens) and Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road" (by Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon).
Teen R&B diva Ciara, pop-punk outfit Fall Out Boy, Keane and Sugarland will battle Legend for Best New Artist. Other first-time nominees include progressive New York dance act LCD Soundsystem's self-titled debut and Montreal indie rockers the Arcade Fire, for their debut Funeral.
The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from Los Angeles' Staples Center on February 8th.