The season of award shows is upon us and snuggled in between the Golden Globes and Academy Awards is the biggest award ceremony for the music industry � the Grammy Awards. This Sunday (Feb. 13), the
53rd Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. With over 100 awards to hand out and a much-anticipated line up of live performers (including Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber to name a few) this year�s Grammys is set to be an amazing event. Here�s a look at where the nominees will be chasing away any last-minute butterflies as they count down to the big day.
Eminem10 Grammy nominations
As the most-nominated artist at this year�s Grammy awards, it is safe to say that Eminem�s comeback is complete. He received 10 Grammy nominations this round including Song of the Year, Rap Album of the Year, and Record of the Year. Eminem, formally known as Marshall Mathers, quickly gained popularity with his debut album �The Slim Shady LP,� which won a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 1999. Between his second album, �The Marshall Mathers LP,� in 2000 (the fastest-selling solo album in U.S. history), and 2004's album, �Encore,� Em snatched 11 Grammys, including one for the song he wrote for the film �8 Mile.� As many people know, the chart-topping veteran took a musical hiatus from the biz in 2005. While he was surely still involved in running his record label, Shady Records, Eminem spent time off hip-hop�s radar at his 5.69-acre estate in Rochester Hills, MI � just 15 miles north of his hometown of Detroit. Eminem�s house (pictured above) features 6 bedrooms, a full tennis/basketball court, outdoor swimming pool, large oval-shaped pond, and over 14,000-sq ft of living space. Public records show Eminem purchased the house in 2003 for $4.75 million. [Source:
chacha.com]
Katy Perry3 Grammy nominations
There�s no debate when it comes to deciding whether recording artist, Katy Perry, is hot or cold. Since bursting on the scene with the single, �I Kissed a Girl� from her debut album �One of the Boys,� Perry has gained international recognition for her pop-rock style and music. While she has 33 awards under her belt, she has yet to grab a Grammy. Luckily her second album, �Teenage Dream,� is giving her a second chance. The popular album has put her in the running for Album of the Year, Best Pop Collaboration, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Along with having an exciting year for her music career, Perry�s personal life attracted some attention as well. The 26-year-old starlet married English comedian, Russell Brand, in October 2010. The newlyweds didn�t have to worry about moving in together, though. Brand reportedly dropped $3.25 million on a
Los Feliz mansion for Perry while news of their engagement circled the celebrity gossip grapevine. Public records show that Brand and Perry�s home was purchased in December 2009 and has 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, over 4,700 sq ft of living space, multiple terraces, and a large outdoor swimming pool and spa. In the slight chance the couple needs a break from Los Angeles, they can jet-set to their East Coast abode. According to The Real Estalker,
Brand and Perry purchased a New York City penthouse in the trendy Tribeca area of the Big Apple, just a month after they got hitched. Their unit of choice has 1,500 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and was last listed for $2,900,000. [Source:
Los Angeles BlockShopper]
Lady Gaga6 Grammy nominations
Today�s music industry is rarely talked about without mention of the world�s latest and greatest pop phenomenon, Lady Gaga. Born Stephani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, the 24-year-old artist quickly came to prominence after releasing her debut album, �The Fame� in 2008. But a short two years later, Gaga has accumulated 92 awards and 200 nominations for her work. Along with her music, Gaga�s performances, videos, and fashion turn heads on a daily basis, making it far from surprising that she is party of the Grammy-nominee party this year, landing 6 nominations for the work on her second album, �The Fame Monster.� Apparently, current polls have Lady Gaga pitted against fellow nominee, Eminem, over the
most-anticipated Grammy performance.
So, where does an icon like Gaga take a break from life in the fast lane? While we have yet to pinpoint the exact location of her undoubtedly glamorous NYC abode, the last real estate news on Gaga was that the touring artist had
leased a stunning Bel Air home for $25,000/month.
Lady Gaga�s rental is a 6,000-sq ft mansion that sits at the end of a cul de sac on a 1-acre, gated and walled lot. The Mediterranean-style home has 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, and a resort-like pool and spa, all with sweeping ocean, city, and mountain views. The home is, however, currently listed for $4,475,000, hinting that Gaga is hanging her meat-cutlet hat somewhere else. Perhaps she is on the hunt for a more permanent residence � something that is surely going to be nothing short of extravagant. [Source:
The Real Estalker]
Beyonc� & Jay-Z7 Grammy nominations
Considered one of the most powerful couples in the music industry, moguls Jay-Z and Beyonc� Knowles, have been icons in the entertainment world both individually and as a couple. Beyonc� has earned a total of 16 Grammy Awards; Jay-Z has received 10 Grammy Awards. This year has proven to be no different for the artists. Both have earned nods on this year�s Grammy nomination list. Beyonc� is nominated for �Best Female Pop Vocal Performance� for her live performance of �Halo.� Her hubby is up for 6 awards including Record of the Year, Best Rap Collaboration, and Best Rap Album.
Beyonc� and Jay-Z (formally named Shawn Carter) became a duo in 2002, after Beyonc� was featured on Jay-Z�s song ��03 Bonnie & Clyde.� They married in April 2008. Up until March 2010, the high-profile couple shared their rich and famous life in a gorgeous Mediterranean mansion located on a waterfront, 1.23-acre lot on the private Indian Creek Island in Florida. In addition to 118 feet of private waterfront and a boat launch (or should we say yacht launch),
Jay-Z and Beyonc�s former home (pictured above) is 7,888 sq ft and features 7 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. Public records show the home sold for $9.3 million. Nothing has been confirmed as to where the untouchable couple will reside next. What has been confirmed, however, is that the Grammy-winning
couple is expecting their first child � perhaps the reason that sparked a move into a more family friendly neighborhood. There have only been rumors surrounding where Beyonc� and her man plan to settle down. The pair has reportedly been
considering a property in Schuylkill County, PA (see listing photos
here) and possibly
building in Scarsdale, NY. Whatever their final decision is, they are doing a great job of keeping it under the radar. [Source:
USA Today]
Kings of Leon2 Grammy nominations
American rock band, Kings of Leon, attained celebrity status after their fourth studio album, �Only One Night,� soared to the top of the Billboard 100 and became their
first platinum-selling album in the U.S. The album also earned them recognition at last year�s Grammy Awards, walking away with the awards for Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance, and Best Rock Song. The family band, comprised of brothers Nathan, Jared, and Caleb Followill and their cousin, Matthew Followill, has a chance to win another round of Grammys this year with repeat nominations in the categories of Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance.
Amidst the hype of winning their first Grammy Awards in 2010, Jared Followill decided to hop on the real estate train and
purchased a gorgeous home in his home state of Tennessee. Followill�s Nashville home (pictured above) is a new construction property by Rogan Allen and sits on a private hill-top lot measuring just over an acre in size. The 7,441-sq ft home has three stories, 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and gorgeous views of the Davidson County countryside. Public records show Jared dropped $1,825,000 for his new pad that is a hefty step up from the �small, fixer-up� he was apparently living in before. [Source:
Nashvillescene.com]
Rihanna5 Grammy nominations
Barbados-born diva, Rihanna, has been on a steady road of success since she signed with record label Def Jam in 2005. She has released 5 albums, had 9 number-one singles, and received 92 awards across the pop, R&B, soul, rock, and rap categories. Included in her round-up of awards are 3 Grammys. This year, Rihanna is looking to add to her collection and, with 5 nominations, has good reason to believe she�ll have something new to bring home after the ceremony.
In September 2009, Rihanna cashed in on her rapidly accumulated success by
dropping $6.9 million on a stunning house in the star-studded hills of 90210 � quite a drop from the original listing price of $9,995,000. Located on a bluff offering 270-degree city and mountain views, Rihanna�s Beverly Hills house features 8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, living and dining areas with 30-ft ceilings, a sauna, library, theater room, pool, spa, and countless decks and balconies. [Source:
Clintoncarolcox.net]
Lady Antebellum4 Grammy nominations
Country music group, Lady Antebellum, has had a busy road to stardom since earning their first number-one single in July 2009, with �I Run To You� from their self-titled debut album. The Nashville-born group is composed of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood. So far, the group has received a Grammy Award, three ACM Awards, and an award from the Country Music Association. This year, Lady Antebellum is in the running for four more Grammys: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Country Performance by a Group, and Best Country Album.
As it turns out, the country trio has been busy on the home front as well with two members buying homes last year. Charles Kelley (and Lady A�s lead vocalist), also
tied the knot with long-time girlfriend, Cassie McConnell, in 2009 and purchased a new home in early 2010. Kelley�s new home (pictured above) is located in the Nashville suburb of Cherokee Park. It has over 2,700 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and sits on almost a quarter-acre lot. The two-story house was originally built in 1910 and features a beautifully renovated kitchen, den, 2 fireplaces, and a large backyard with a raised patio, swimming pool and landscaped gardens. The Zillow Price History chart shows Kelley and his new wifey bought the property for $685,000 in February 2010.
Lady A�s leading lady, Hillary Scott,
purchased her first home in November 2010. Scott�s home (pictured right) is a quaint 4-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home with the traditional feel of a �historic Richland bungalow.� There is a gourmet kitchen, custom touches throughout, long covered parking area, and a large deck, garden and fountain in the back � perfect for relaxing or entertaining. Public records show the home was originally listed for $899,900 in March 2010. Scott scooped it up for $725,000.
Usher2 Grammy nominations
Since his first number-one single in 1998, Usher has made it a habit to deliver drool-worthy performances and addictive hits that top the charts time and time again. This past year has been no exception. Not only did he surprise the Super Bowl XLV audience with an unannounced performance during the halftime show, but he released another record-setting album, Raymond v. Raymond, that earned him two nods on this year�s list of Grammy nominees.
Much like his musical colleagues on this list, Usher already has numerous awards under his belt, including 5 Grammy Awards. Usher stores his ever-rowing list of awards and achievements in a 12,544-sq ft mansion in Roswell, GA. Usher�s house sits on a secluded 4.25-acres and features a massive 6-bedroom, 7-bathroom main house. Public records show he purchased the house in 2007 for $3,040,000. According to the NY Post, the Dallas-born star has also been
house hunting in Manhattan. Could Usher be trading in his Southern comfort for a penthouse in sky? [Source:
city-data.com]
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