We asked a handful of local musicians to weigh in on a few of the categories. Here's what they had to say:

Best female R&B vocal performance

Nominees: Beyonce, "Ring the Alarm"; Mary J. Blige, "Be Without You"; Mariah Carey, "Don't Forget About Us"; Natalie Cole, "Day Dreaming"; India.Arie, "I Am Not My Hair."

"I'm gonna have to go for India Arie. I chose one of her songs to remake for my 'Inspired' EP -- and she definitely has inspired me along the way. I can totally relate to the song 'I Am Not My Hair' (literally) and the message of being your own person no matter how you look or how society may perceive you is a message that will always have my vote."

-- Margot B, R&B singer

Best metal performance

Nominees: Lamb of God, "Redneck"; Mastodon, "Colony of Birchmen"; Ministry, "Lies, Lies, Lies"; Slayer, "Eyes of the Insane"; Stone Sour, "30/30-150."

"There are a few great metal riffs that just make you lose control. Lamb of God's 'Redneck' grabs you by the jugular -- and a few other select body parts -- and gives you no choice but to mosh no matter where you are."

-- Chip DiMonick, metal singer

Best traditional blues album

Nominees: Tab Benoit with Louisiana's Leroux, "Brother to the Blues; Dion, "Bronx in Blue"; James Hunter, "People Gonna Talk"; Duke Robillard, "Guitar Groove-A-Rama"; Ike Turner, "Risin' With the Blues."

"I love the James Hunter CD. He captures that early '60s Bobby Bland, James Brown, Sam Cooke sound, complete with cha cha beat. Great horns, too.

-- Billy Price, blues singer

Best rap solo performance

Nominees: Busta Rhymes, "Touch It"; Missy Elliott, "We Run This"; Lupe Fiasco, "Kick, Push"; Mos Def, "Undeniable"; T.I., "What You Know."

"I choose 'What You Know' because it wuz hot and it started the year off good for Tip, making him '06's best-selling rap artist. It wuz the first single off the new album and helped take him to a new level of superstardom.

-- Wiz Khalifa, rapper

Best country performance by a duo or group

Nominees: The Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice," The Duhks, "Heaven's My Home"; Little Big Town, "Boondocks"; Rascal Flatts, "What Hurts the Most"; The Wreckers, "Leave the Pieces."

"I'd have to say Rascal Flatts just because they kind of do what we're doing, starting out gigging. You've got to respect their harmonies, they've accomplished a lot in a very little time, and they have great music."

-- Abby Abbondanza, The PovertyNeck Hillbillies'