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Madonna, John Mellencamp and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are among the nominees for the 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame.
They are joined by a number of top acts, including Ray Davies, Sade, Cyndi Lauper and Linda Perry.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame gave the Associated Press a list of nominees in advance of the official announcement, set for today. The gala will be held June 12 at the New York Marriott Marquis.
Also nominated are Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson, Vince Gill, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, Donovan, Cat Stevens and Harry Wayne Casey.
Nonperforming songwriter nominees include “Midnight Train to Georgia” writer Jim Weatherly, Motown songwriter William “Mickey” Stevenson and country music songwriters Bobby Braddock and Bill Anderson.
Mark James, the writer behind “Always on My Mind” — covered by Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson — is also nominated alongside Don Robertson, Graham Gouldman and Tony Macaulay. Writing duos Hugo & Luigi, Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, and Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham will also compete.
Eligible voters can select two nominees from the list of songwriter-performers and three nonperforming songwriters. Voting ends Dec. 16.
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Drake, Robin Thicke, Keith Urban and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will perform on the Grammy Awards nominations special in December.
The Recording Academy made the announcement Wednesday. The show will be held Dec. 6 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
Rapper-actor LL Cool J will host “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night.” The one-hour special will air on CBS starting at 10 p.m. Eastern.
Thicke is a top Grammy contender. His “Blurred Lines” is the year’s biggest smash. He has won Grammys for writing songs for Usher and Jennifer Hudson.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis also have a strong chance for Grammy gold. Their breakthrough year includes three international hits and a platinum debut with “The Heist
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Peter Coyote is 72. Actor Charles Dance is 67. Singer John Prine is 67. Actor-dancer Ben Vereen is 67. Singer Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers is 65. Actress Jessica Harper is 64. Singer-guitarist Midge Ure is 60. Singer David Lee Roth (Van Halen) is 59. Country singer Tanya Tucker is 55. Actress Julia Sweeney ("Saturday Night Live") is 54. Actor Bradley Whitford is 54. Bassist Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) is 52. Guitarist Jim Glennie of James is 50. Drummer Mike Malinin of the Goo Goo Dolls is 46. Actress Wendi McLendon-Covey ("Reno 911!") is 44. Actor Mario Lopez is 40. Actress Jodi Lyn O'Keefe ("She's All That," "Nash Bridges") is 35. Singer Mya is 34. Actor Dan Stevens ("Downton Abbey") is 31. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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