Grammy Preview: And the Winner Is . . .

We assembled an A-list panel of experts -- rock stars, hitmaking producers, top execs -- to give you the inside line on the major races. Impress your friends with your killer Grammy knowledge!

Album of the Year

NOMINEES: The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey; Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Paul McCartney; Love, Angel, Music, Baby, Gwen Stefani; How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, U2; Late Registration, Kanye West

DAVE NAVARRO: If Gwen sang over the sound of nails on a chalkboard, it would sound good. And she's the most attractive. Frankly, that's more important for half the people that will be voting.

JOHN NORRIS: It's Kanye or U2. I'm optimistic that Kanye's gonna win it this year. The only reason I wouldn't want him to is because he let us all know that he would have a big problem with it if he didn't.

JOHN SHANKS: Kanye's album is not only interesting sonically, but he managed to create hits that touched on themes people have shied away from lately.

RICK KRIM: I'm going with U2 because the voting group is broad, both young and old, and I think they appeal to all ages.

PAT WILSON: It could be a sympathy vote for Kanye, because the government doesn't like black people. The voters might try and help him out.

PETE WENTZ: Kanye, because I think it's very rare for someone to come out and say all kinds of things -- "My record is the album of the year" -- and actually live up to it.

POLLY ANTHONY: Mariah. The album is beautifully written and incredibly produced -- it feels like Grammy-Grammy-Grammy to me.

AHMIR "?UESTLOVE" THOMPSON: I somehow feel like a Steely Dan is about to be pulled -- I think McCartney might get it. It will be a Mexican standoff: Four records will cancel each other out, and McCartney will be waiting in the wings.

Will Win: The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey
Should Win: Late Registration, Kanye West

Record of the Year

NOMINEES: "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey; "Feel Good Inc.," Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul; "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day; "Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani; "Gold Digger," Kanye West

JED THE FISH: "Boulevard." That song has gravitas. How many rock bands have gravitas? I'm in awe of that band. They could quit tomorrow and we'll be listening to Green Day in ten or twenty years.

NAVARRO: I'm going to go with Green Day, even though musically it's essentially "Wonderwall." They put rock back on the map this year.

NORRIS: I wouldn't be surprised if "Boulevard" won. I think they'd like to honor Green Day, and that pop-radio-friendly song connects with a lot of pop fans who weren't necessarily into other parts of the record.

RIC OCASEK: "Hollaback Girl." It's just more exciting than the other records.

KRIM: "Gold Digger." It's a giant song. You heard the thing everywhere.

WILSON: My wife thinks "Gold Digger" is a good song.

WENTZ: I personally got down with Green Day a little more, but I think Mariah came up with a record that was awesome.

THOMPSON: It'd be interesting to see how the Gorillaz would go up and accept that award -- they're not human. But it's going to go to Mariah.

ANTHONY: I'm going to be boring here -- Mariah. The girl is going to have the night of her life. She should get a lot of rest the few days before, because she isn't going to sleep much that night.

Will Win: "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey
Should Win: "Gold Digger," Kanye West

Best New Artist

NOMINEES: Ciara; Fall Out Boy; Keane; John Legend; Sugarland

ANTHONY: The Grammy voting population loves artists like John Legend. He's an organic talent that fans and consumers can embrace. And he's great -- a guy who's worked very hard, paying his dues in every nook and cranny.

KRIM: John Legend all the way. That's a no-brainer. He's the kind of artist the Grammys tend to love.

NORRIS: I'd give that to John Legend.

WENTZ: I think that it's going to be John Legend. He appeals across the board to so many different people. It's kind of sad that I'm not picking my own band. I love Fall Out Boy too, but that John Legend is really good.

WILSON: I would vote for Fall Out Boy, just because people playing instruments is turning into kind of a quaint old-fashioned pastime.

JED: It's Fall Out Boy's time. There's been a buzz on that group for a long, long time.

OCASEK: I've got Keane on that one. I just like the songwriting a lot.

THOMPSON: This is the one category you don't want to win. I actually think it will go to Fall Out Boy. I hope they beat John Legend. If John Legend reads this, I'm lovingly saying that I hope they beat him.

Will Win: John Legend
Should Win: Fall Out Boy

Best Rock Album

NOMINEES: X&Y, Coldplay; In Your Honor, Foo Fighters; A Bigger Bang, the Rolling Stones; How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, U2; Prairie Wind, Neil Young

KRIM: Coldplay got snubbed a little bit by not getting any major categories. This is the opportunity for the Grammys to recognize them.

NORRIS: They'll go for U2 here. It's a familiar name, and they like honoring them.

ANTHONY: U2. It's a brilliant album.

JED: U2, because it really did sound like they were experimenting, and they always deliver the melodies. Also, their version of structure is more complex than the average songwriter's structure.

THOMPSON: They'll definitely go with U2. It is the only one from Universal, the monopoly of the industry now.

Will Win: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, U2
Should Win: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, U2

Best Rock Song

NOMINEES: "Best of You," Foo Fighters; "Beverly Hills," Weezer; "City of Blinding Lights," U2; "Devils and Dust," Bruce Springsteen; "Speed of Sound," Coldplay

WILSON: I'm going to vote for me. It's the best song.

JED: Weezer. When Rivers [Cuomo] writes a good song, it is just so simple and hits home on such a common visceral level. He doesn't hide anything. That is rarely found in rock.

WENTZ: Give it to Coldplay. That was one of my favorite songs on the record. That's awesome rock.

NORRIS: My choice would be Foo Fighters, but they'll go with Coldplay, because Coldplay is arguably more Grammy-friendly than Foo Fighters.

NAVARRO: Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl's music has grown incredibly over the years.

ANTHONY: "Beverly Hills" -- even though they are on my label. It's a great song. It gave rock some personality, in a time when rock is a little bit in the background.

OCASEK: "Beverly Hills" is the strongest. None of the others are as cool as that.

Will Win: "Beverly Hills," Weezer
Should Win: "Beverly Hills," Weezer

Best Alternative Album

NOMINEES: Funeral, Arcade Fire; Guero, Beck; Plans, Death Cab for Cutie; You Could Have It So Much Better, Franz Ferdinand; Get Behind Me Satan, the White Stripes

THOMPSON: I will actually steal nine ballots off my bandmates and my management and vote for the White Stripes. We all love them to death.

NAVARRO: The White Stripes strike a chord in me. It is pretty much the definition of taking something in its most simplistic form and having the most impact.

KRIM: I'm going with Beck. He made his best record in a long time.

NORRIS: Beck. Sometimes these choices come down to who is gonna be more familiar to people voting.

OCASEK: Death Cab for Cutie. They're a phenomenally great band -- more unique, original than any other of the records on that list.

WILSON: I would give the edge to Franz Ferdinand, because everybody already knows that the White Stripes are pretty great.

Will Win: Guero, Beck
Should Win: Funeral, Arcade Fire

Best Rap Song

NOMINEES: "Candy Shop," 50 Cent; "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," Kanye West; "Don't Phunk With My Heart," Black Eyed Peas; "Hate It or Love It," the Game Featuring 50 Cent; "Lose Control," Missy Elliott

THOMPSON: I'm throwing gasoline on the fire. I want 50 Cent and the Game to sweep all the categories. I think everyone is going to vote for them. I want my popcorn ready, and I'm going to be right in the fortieth row in the balcony watching.

NORRIS: I'd like to see "Lose Control" win. I thought that was a real cool song.

ANTHONY: I love "Candy Shop." That one really grew on me like fungus. There is a subtlety about that song that is so fantastic -- the way it just grabs you. He is an amazing songwriter.

KRIM: It's got to be Kanye. If we don't give it to him here, all hell will break loose. This is the category he should dominate.

Will Win: "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," Kanye West
Should Win: "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," Kanye West

Best R&B Song

NOMINEES: "Cater 2 U," Destiny's Child; "Free Yourself," Fantasia; "Ordinary People," John Legend; "Unbreakable," Alicia Keys; "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey

NORRIS: This is gonna come down to Mariah vs. John Legend. "We Belong Together" was so inescapable for so much of the year, I'll go with that one.

OCASEK: I pick "Unbreakable." I just love her voice.

THOMPSON: The most timeless song here is "Ordinary People." If a movie doesn't use this on a soundtrack, then there is something wrong in the world.

Will Win: "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey
Should Win: "Ordinary People," John Legend

Producer of the Year

NOMINEES: Danger Mouse, Demon Days (Gorillaz); Nigel Godrich, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (Paul McCartney); Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, "Harajuku Girls" (Gwen Stefani), "Never Too Much," (Mary J. Blige); Steve Lillywhite, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (U2), Mr. A-Z (Jason Mraz); the Neptunes, "Already Platinum" (Slim Thug Featuring Pharrell), "Hollaback Girl" (Gwen Stefani)

ANTHONY: It was odd that neither Jermaine Dupri nor Kanye were nominated. Mariah is up for everything, and Dupri, who she openly acknowledges as her partner, isn't nominated? And Kanye's album is brilliant. I'm going with Steve Lillywhite.

THOMPSON: Kanye's crying.

SHANKS: I was surprised Kanye wasn't on the list -- and I was surprised I wasn't on the list. I had a part in great records.

KRIM: The Neptunes, for the pure volume and variety of projects.

OCASEK: I respect the Neptunes -- they're always good.

NORRIS: The safe choice is Lillywhite, but I'm going with the Neptunes.

Will Win: The Neptunes
Should win: Danger Mouse

THE EXPERTS

POLLY ANTHONY
President, Geffen Records

JED THE FISH
DJ, Los Angeles rock station KROQ

RICK KRIM
VH1 executive vice president of music and talent programming

DAVE NAVARRO
Former Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, nominated previously for six Grammys

JOHN NORRIS
MTV host and VJ

RIC OCASEK
Former Cars frontman, producer, founder of Sanctuary imprint Inverse Records, former Elektra A&R executive

JOHN SHANKS
Songwriter and producer (Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, Ashlee Simpson), 2004 Grammy for Producer of the Year

AHMIR "?UESTLOVE" THOMPSON
The Roots drummer and songwriter, winner of 1999 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

PETE WENTZ
Fall Out Boy bassist and songwriter, nominee for Best New Artist

PAT WILSON
Weezer drummer and nominee for Best Rock Song