Coldplay lead Britpop invasion of Grammys

British talent dominated the nominations for record of the year at America's Grammy Awards.

Gram opening: Mariah Carey leads the way

Coldplay, who earned a total of seven Grammy nominations, are up against fellow Britons Adele, Leona Lewis, Robert Plant and Californiabased MIA for best record.

Plant is also nominated in the album of the year category - along with Brit band Radiohead - while Welsh singer Duffy and Tottenhamborn Adele are among thos e in the running for best new artist.

Top Britpop:Chris Martin and Leona Lewis

Coldplay are only outdone in the nominations stakes by American rap artist Lil Wayne, who garnered eight nominations.

In the coveted record of the year category, Coldplay are nominated for Viva La Vida against Adele's Chasing Pavements, MIA for Paper Planes, X-Factor winner Leona Lewis for Bleeding Love and Plant and Alison Krauss for Please Read The Letter.

No mercy: Adele and Duffy

For album of the year, Coldplay will take on Radiohead's ground-breaking album In Rainbows, which was sold not in stores, but on a "pay what you think it is worth" basis through the band's website. However, the band later released the album traditionally via a record label.

Raising Sand, by Krauss and Led Zeppelin frontman Plant, is also nominated for best album, against Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III and Ne-Yo's Year Of The Gentleman.

In the best new artist category, Duffy and Adele will take on US teen sensations The Jonas Brothers, singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan and country act Lady Antebellum.

The awards show takes place on 8 February, and the nominees were revealed live during a prime-time concert special on CBS.

Former Grammy winner Mariah Carey, wearing a red minidress, opened the night with a song from her Christmas album.

The live show also included performances from Christina Aguilera, who sang (I Love You) Porgy from the Gershwin opera Porgy And Bess, and the Foo Fighters, who covered Carly Simon's classic You're So Vain.

Last year's awards ceremony drew 17.2m viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys.