Lil Wayne Leads Grammy Nods With 8, Coldplay 7

Lil Wayne didn't get "A Milli" Grammy nominations, but his total haul was still pretty amazing — eight.

Lil Wayne arrives at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards held at Paramount Pictures Studio Lot in this...

Lil Wayne arrives at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards held at Paramount Pictures Studio Lot in this Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008 file photo taken in Los Angeles. Lil Wayne _ the most prolific, ubiquitous and successful performer on today's music scene _ was the most rewarded by the Recording Academy on Wednesday Dec. 3, 2008, receiving eight Grammy nominations including album of the year for "Tha Carter III."

(Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)
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Nominations for the prolific and ubiquitous rap MVP, who became pop's biggest success in 2008 with his top-selling album, "Tha Carter III," included a coveted album of the year bid.

Although the New Orleans rapper — who has been nominated for Grammys before but has never taken home a trophy — was the leading nominee, he wasn't the only big act to have a big night Wednesday.

Following close behind during the Grammys' first-ever nominations ceremony/concert combination was Coldplay, with seven nominations. The Chris Martin-led British group's "Viva La Vida," one of the year's best-selling CDs, is in album of the year contention along with Radiohead's groundbreaking "In Rainbows"; singer-songwriter Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman"; and Robert Plant's collaboration with Alison Krauss, "Raising Sand."

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Coldplay and Plant & Krauss were also nominated in the coveted record of the year category for the respective songs "Viva La Vida" and "Please Read the Letter." Other record of the year nominees were British songstress Leona Lewis for "Bleeding Love"; another British newcomer, Adele, for "Chasing Pavements"; and M.I.A. for her breakthrough hit, "Paper Planes."

Some surprising omissions: Katy Perry, who had one of the year's biggest hits with "I Kissed a Girl," was shut out of the top categories, including record of the year and best new artist. Still, she was excited about her nomination for female pop vocal performance: "I feel very grateful to be recognized by an institution of such iconic musical history. I can't believe it, but this year I won't be watching the Grammys in my jammies!" she said in a statement.

Metallica got three nominations, but their huge comeback record "Death Magnetic" didn't get a nod for album of the year despite being a top seller in 2008.

Nominations were announced in a new format this year, with an hourlong CBS concert special that featured a brisk procession of performers and LL Cool J and Taylor Swift as hosts.