What to Expect at the Grammys

It's that time of year again - music fans get your pajamas, popcorn, and predictions ready because The 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards telecast this Sunday, Jan 31 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

The Grammys, music's most important event, is the one time of year where fans of pop, jazz, country, and R&B can come together and show appreciation for all artists and their music.

Oh what a year its been- Lady Gaga had us doing the "Poker Face", Kings of Leon gave us the ok to "Use Somebody", and The Black-Eyed Peas provided the assurance of having a good night with "I Gotta Feeling," the pre-game anthem for the entire summer of 2009.

Beyonce leads The Grammys with ten deserving nods. Not far behind is Taylor Swift, with eight nominations. Now let us hope we don't have a repeat of The VMA's and Kanye West doesn't come out from the woodwork and steal the country girl's thunder. However, I can't stand to see Swift do that whole "Oh my god I can't believe I won" act all night, so I'm hoping her wins are kept to a minimum. Both ladies are up for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year, the three most prestigious categories of the night.

I think it's fair to say that Lady Gaga, as crazy and unexplainable as she is, should come out a big winner this Sunday. I mean, the girl has us speaking her own language for crying out loud - "Ra Ra-ah-ah-ah Roma Roma-ma GaGa Oh la-la", who else but the Lady herself can make that sound good? Personally, I think a win for album of the year is in the bag, her album; The Fame Monster, has produced hit after hit this past year, including, "Poker Face", "Papparazzi", "Bad Romance" and "Telephone."

Also up for Album of the Year is the Dave Matthews Band for Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King. Dave is always a fan favorite, and definitely the underdog this year. A big Dave fan myself; I'd love to see a surprise win for them.

One of the most exciting categories is "Best New Artist." Past winners include, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Norah Jones, Maroon 5, and Carrie Underwood. This year's nominations are Zac Brown Band, Keri Hilson, MGMT, Silversun Pickups, and The Ting Tings. I'm rooting for The Ting Tings. The incredibly catchy single "That's not my name" had found its way in my head and stayed there these past couple of months. Their music is nothing less then infectious and I see them sticking around for a while.

The Grammys is also a night to showcase a variety of artists by featuring numerous live performances. An avid watcher of The Grammys, this year's line-up is the best I've seen in years. Beyonce, The Black-Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Maxwell, Pink, Taylor Swift, and the Zac Brown Band are all set to take the stage.

A highly anticipated Michael Jackson Tribute is also set to take place. Grammy winners Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, and Carrie Underwood as well as the voice of Michael Jackson are all part of this very special event. The tribute will introduce viewers to the 3-D mini-movie "Earth Song" created by Jackson for his "This Is It" tour. The song's message is about the future of our planet, an issue Jackson was very passionate about. With so much to look forward to, you're not going to want to miss The 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards. Make sure to claim a spot on the couch this Sunday and see who is a winner, who is snubbed, who rocks it out during his/her performance, and what bizarre outfit Lady Gaga wears.