Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Can Idol extend its Grammy-award winning streak to six years?

We’ll have to wait until Sunday to find out, of course, but Idol seems to face better odds than a year ago, when Carrie Underwood and the “Ain’t Misbehavin'” cast accounted for the only show-related nominations.

This year, Carrie is one of three Idols with Grammy nominations.

Carrie is nominated for best female country vocal performance, an honor she won three in 2007, 2008 and 2009 before losing to Taylor Swift last year. The nomination is for her number one country single, “Temporary Home.”

Adam Lambert is nominated for best male pop vocal performance for  “Whataya Want From Me.” It’s his first Grammy nomination.

Considering the success of his album and the success of his Glam Nation Tour, Adam was unfairly passed over for a nomination for best new artist. Those nominations went to JustinBieber, Drake, Florence and the Machine, Mumford & Sons and Esperanza Spalding.

Then there’s Fantasia, who has two Grammy nominations, three if you want to count one that’s more of  a songwriter award than a singer’s award.

Those nominations are for best R&B female vocal performance (for “Bittersweet”), R&B Album of the Year (for “Back to Me”) and best R&B song (“Bittersweet again, that’s the songwriters’ award).

With three artists sporting four nominations, Idol should be a shoe-in for extending that streak, right?

Well, I’m not so sure.

Adam faces competition from Michael Jackson (for “This Is It”), Michael Buble, Bruno Mars and John Mayer. That’s a formidable foursome, and I can see the Grammy going to Michael for sentimental reasons. The number of season 10 Idol contestants who site the King of Pop as their all-time favorite performer — and that’s an awful lot of them — is a testament to his impact.

Fantasia’s album of the year bid will have to overcome John Legend and the Roots, and her “Bittersweet” is up against former number one R&B hit “Everything to Me” by Monica. “Bittersweet” peaked at number seven on the R&B chart.

As for Carrie, her competition includes “The House that Built Me” by Miranda Lambert, which I consider the best song among the nominees. And “Satisfied” by Jewel, who I’ll be rooting for because … well, it’s Jewel.

Check back throughout the weekend for updates. I’ll be posting photos live during the Grammys Sunday night (8 p.m. CBS). And AP normally provides photos from the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party, which I’ll also post, if they’re available.

Now, here’s the complete list of this year’s Idol nominees and the competition they face, plus the list of past Grammys won by Idols.

THIS YEAR’S IDOL NOMINATIONS

Best Female Country Vocal Performance: Carrie Underwood, “Temporary Home;’  Jewel,“Satisfied;” Miranda Lambert, “The House that Built Me;” LeAnn Rimes, “Swingin’;” and Gretchen Wilson, “I’d Love to be Your Last.”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Adam Lambert, “Whataya Want from Me;” Michael Jackson, “This Is It;” Michael Buble, “Haven’t Met You Yet;” Bruno Mars, “Just the Way You Are;” and John Mayer, “Half of My Heart.”

R&B Album of the Year: “Back to Me,” Fantasia; “Wake Up!” John Legend and the Roots; “Still Standing,” Monica; “Another Round,” Jaheim; and “The Love and War Masterpiece,” Raheem DeVaughn.

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: Fantasia, “Bittersweet;”  Faith Evans, “Gone Already;” Monica,  “Everything to Me;” Kelly Price, “Tired;” Jazmine Sullivan, “Holding You Down.”

PAST IDOL WINNERS

2006

Kelly Clarkson, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Since U Been Gone.”

Kelly Clarkson, Best Pop Vocal Album, for “Breakaway,” produced by Clive Davis.

2007

Carrie Underwood, Best New Artist

Carrie Underwood, Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Jesus Take the Wheel.”

2008

Carrie Underwood, Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for “Before He Cheats.”

2009

Jennifer Hudson, Best R&B Album, for her self-titled debut

Carrie Underwood, Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for “Last Name.”

2010

Carrie Underwood, Best Country Collaboration, with Randy Travis for “I Told You So.”