Record of the Year

"Irreplaceable" - Beyoncé

"The Pretender" - Foo Fighters

"Umbrella" - Rihanna ft. Jay-Z

"What Goes Around. Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake

"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

Should win: "Umbrella" - Rihanna ft. Jay-Z

Will win: "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

In a year when the charts have been completely dominated by R&B and hip-hop songs, "Umbrella" stands as the unchallenged best. Despite the track's unfortunate bastard spawn - the version of "Umbrella" that features Chris Brown - Rihanna's masterpiece has solidified her as a pop force. The song's cascading chorus and shuffling, sharp beat make it an instant classic. The Grammys need to look past its adult-rock stint and finally choose a pop R&B track for this award (which is misleadingly named and actually goes to the best song) - recent winners include the Dixie Chicks, Green Day, U2 (twice) and Norah Jones (twice, though one was awarded for a duet with Ray Charles). That said, "Rehab" is a close second, and given Winehouse's headlines, expect the voting to tilt towards her.

Album of the Year

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters

These Days - Vince Gill

River: The Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock

Graduation - Kanye West

Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

Should win: Graduation -Kanye West

Will win: Graduation -Kanye West

What a rag-tag bunch of hopefuls. Finally, though, the man catches a break. Take it for what it's worth when he complains on MTV about never winning anything, but Kanye West deserves this. It's been a few years since anything remotely related to hip hop took home the award (OutKast in 2003), and Kanye is much more of a household name now than ever. He's cementing himself as a stalwart in the mainstream. He doesn't pull too many punches and has flash without the over-the-top generalizations of the genre that would turn off the Academy. The Foo Fighters might give him a run, but if Kanye doesn't win this year, he has the right to scream bloody murder about a racist Academy.

Song of the Year

"Before He Cheats" - Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins (Carrie Underwood)

"Hey There Delilah" - Tom Higgenson (Plain White T's)

"Like A Star" - Corinne Bailey Rae (Corinne Bailey Rae)

"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse (Amy Winehouse)

"Umbrella" - Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart (Rihanna ft. Jay-Z)

Should win: "Hey There Delilah" - Tom Higgenson (Plain White T's)

Will win: "Before He Cheats" - Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins (Carrie Underwood)

An unabashed song of longing, "Hey There Delilah" put Plain White T's on the map - for better or worse. The track is comfortably soft and immediately recognizable. Born from emo tendencies, the track has a heart, something missing from contemporary radio. Carrie Underwood's defiant and rambunctious "Before He Cheats," however, will almost certainly take the category. Its sadistic subject matter will be overlooked for its catchy chorus and sheer popularity.

Best New Artist

Feist

Ledisi

Paramore

Taylor Swift

Amy Winehouse

Should win: Feist

Will win: Feist

We're all pretty sick of "1234" by now, but still, Feist's on a roll. Easily one of the most accessible and vocally pleasing releases of the year, The Reminder was played just about everywhere during 2007 - local malls, Pottery Barns, your house party. Winehouse could creep in and snag this from old Ms. Broken Social Scene. But the legal problems, overall image and insanity level of Winehouse should kill any chance she has of winning considering that the last few winners in the category have been squeaky clean and overrated. Feist is pretty damn innocent, but it's time the underrated label in this category disappears. This has Feist written all over it.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

"Candyman" - Christina Aguilera

"1234" - Feist

"Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie

"Say It Right" - Nelly Furtado

"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

Should win: "1234" - Feist

Will win: "1234" - Feist