Jay-Z, Beyonce and other local celebs score Grammy nominations

Thursday December 6, 2012 1:35 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Jim McIsaac | Jay-Z and Beyonce watch a game between the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. (Nov. 23, 2012)

Celebrities with Hudson Valley ties are well-represented in the Grammy nominations announced Wednesday night.

Jay-Z earned an impressive six nominations for songs from "Watch the Throne," his album with Kanye West, as well as collaborations with other artists. The Scarsdale homeowner earned nominations in four categories, including two nods for Best Rap Performance and two nods for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Jay-Z's wife Beyonce also scored a Grammy nod for Best Traditional R&B Performance for her hit song "Love on Top." With 44 nominations overall, Beyonce is the second-most nominated female artist in Grammy history.

Bjork, who has called Palisades home, was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album for her 2011 album "Biophilia." The album also received a nod for Best Recording Package.

Two local celebs received a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. New Rochelle native Alan Menken earned a nod as a producer of the cast recording of "Newsies," making this his 11th Grammy nomination. Earlier this year, the composer also received his first-ever Tony Award for his musical adaptation of the Disney film. Westchester's Kelli O'Hara received a nod as principal soloist on for the cast recording of the Broadway musical "Nice Work If You Can Get It."

Taylor Swift, whom we deemed an honorary local celeb because of her relationship with Bedford's Conor Kennedy, scored earned three nominations, including Record of the Year for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together."

In nonmusical categories, Jimmy Fallon, a former Saugerties resident, was nominated for Best Comedy Album for "Blow Your Pants Off," the second time he has been nominated for a Grammy. 

And former President Bill Clinton, of Chappaqua, received a nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for "Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy." Clinton is already a Grammy winner, having received the award in 2004 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.  

Tags: Scarsdale , Palisades , Bedford , New Rochelle , Saugerties , Chappaqua , Jay-Z , Beyonce , Bjork , Alan Menken , Taylor Swift , Jimmy Fallon , Bill Clinton , Grammys , Grammy Awards , awards , music