Beyonce tops Grammy nominations with 10 nods

Beyonce topped the list of nominees for the 52nd Grammy Awards, leading the way with 10 nods ahead of teenage country star Taylor Swift with eight.

R&B superstar Beyonce scooped nominations in the coveted record of the year and album of the year categories, for her single "Halo" and her chart-topping double-album "I Am ... Sasha Fierce." The former "Destiny's Child" singer also picked up a nod in the song of the year category.

But Beyonce is likely to face fierce competition in the major categories from Swift, eccentric songstress Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas, who all earned nominations in best album, record and song.

Trailing Beyonce and Swift in overall nominations were the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and Kanye West with six nods each.

This year's nominations were announced at a star-studded concert performance in Los Angeles where Beatles legend Ringo Starr and Katy Perry were among the presenters.

Swift, 19, who has already enjoyed success this year at the American Music Awards and Country Music Awards, earned a nod for her album "Fearless."

Other nominees were the Black Eyed Peas for "The E.N.D", Lady Gaga ("The Fame") and Dave Matthews Band for "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King."

Grammy chief Neil Portnow praised Swift as a "phenomenon in entertainment." "She crosses so many genres and generations. She?s really struck a chord with people because her music is so honest," Portnow said.

In the record of the year race, Beyonce's "Halo" will go up against Black Eyed Peas infectious pop track "I Gotta Feeling", the Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody," Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and Swift's "You Belong with Me."

The nominees for song of the year, awarded to the songwriters, are Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," Maxwell's "Pretty Wings," Beyonce's No.1 single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" and Swift's "You Belong with Me."

Maxwell -- who returned from a seven-year hiatus with his album "BlackSummersNight" -- celebrated his multiple nominations with a rousing performance of Michael Jackson's "The Lady In My Life."

The 36-year-old Brooklyn based R&B described his raft of Grammy nods as "very surreal."

"I was living in obscurity, so to come back and to make a record based on my own life experiences and not my desire to be number one, and to have this reception -- I feel like I?ve already won," he said.

The best rock album nominees meanwhile comprise AC/DC's "Black Ice," "Live From Madison Square Garden" by Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood, "21st Century Breakdown" by Green Day, "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King" by the Dave Matthews Band and "No Line on the Horizon" by U2.

The best new artist category saw nods for the Zac Brown Band, Keri Hilson, MGMT, Silversun Pickups and The Ting Tings.

Next year's Grammy Awards will be presented on January 31 at the Staples Center for Los Angeles.

BEYONCE VOTED THE QUEEN OF POP
Beyonce Knowles has been chosen the queen of pop by hundreds of fans. British music lovers voted the Crazy in Love star as the 'World's Greatest Pop Star, leaving Britney Spears in second place and Eminem in third place. Pink and Madonna made the fourth and fifth place respectively. Menawhile, Beyonce reveals her plans when she wraps up her tour in February. “I'm going to take – hopefully – a couple of months off. I'm not going to plan anything. I'll perhaps take some art classes, I'll visit some museums and I'll check out some shows on Broadway. I'd like to travel somewhere – maybe Egypt – without anyone, without any security, and focus on things I've always wanted to do myself.”


Beyonce Knowles surprised her fans when she crowd-surfed during a free show at the O2 Arena in London. The Bootylicious star dived off the stage into the crowd while she was singing her song Halo. Dressed in a hot-pant bodysuit, she managed to continue with the song and sing live as she was passed from fan to fan. Her sister Solange, wrote in Tweeter, "She's just Bad-a**! How many pop stars do you know crowd surfin' in heels and still hitting perfect notes?"

BEYONCE HONORED FOR HER GENEROSITY
Beyonce was inducted into the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation's Hall of Fame as a recognition for her work towards those in needs on Saturday night (Oct. 4). The singer was the guest of honor of the swanky dinner, with tables costing up to $11,000  to raise funds for the Miami-based foundation. Beyonce looked ravishing in a scarlet evening gown.


BEYONCE GETS SEPARATE HOTEL ROOM FOR BAGGAGE
Beyonce Knowles booked a separate hotel room for her large luggage. The superstar, who performed in Liverpool as part of her UK leg, rented a 2,450 pounds-a-night Charles Forte Presidential Suite at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester to keep her 12 bags. "She had seven suitcases, three hand-luggage bags and two boxes, all for her mammoth concert. In the cases there were apparently 14 dresses, lots of shoes, make-up and 25 wigs," said a source at the hotel.  Four helpers were reportedly necessary to help her carried baggage to the room.