Maybe this time, Kanye West will go home happy. The rapper/producer, who has visibly sulked at being passed over at past award shows, leads the field of nominees for the 50th annual Grammy Awards.

West picked up eight nominations, including album of the year for "Graduation," in nominations announced today.

Troubled retro-soul diva Amy Winehouse was right behind West with six nominations, including record, song and album of the year, plus best new artist.

Winehouse's "Rehab" is up for record of the year honors along with Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," Foo Fighters' "The Pretender," Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around" and "Umbrella," by Rihanna, featuring Jay-Z.

In addition to West's "Graduation," others in the eclectic album of the year race are "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" by Foo Fighters, "These Days" by Vince Gill, "River: The Joni Letters" by Herbie Hancock and "Back to Black" by Winehouse.

Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and T-Pain all had five nominations.

North Carolina "American Idol" alumnus Chris Daughtry heads up a large group of nominees with four each, a pack that includes Akon, Bruce Springsteen and Feist. Daughtry's nominations include a nod for best rock album, but he was snubbed in the best-new-artist category.

Also on the North Carolina "American Idol" tip, High Point's Fantasia picked up a nod for best contemporary R&B album.

Durham-based Merge Records earned its second-ever nomination, for Arcade Fire for best alternative album. Former Chapel Hill resident James Taylor's "At Christmas" picked up a nod for best traditional pop vocal album.

The Grammy Awards will be presented Feb. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

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