Pop queen Beyonce Knowles on Tuesday led the Grammys pack with nine nominations, as music prepares to celebrate its hitmakers in a year that saw the coronavirus crisis deal devastating blows to the industry. 

Coming in second with six nods were Dua Lipa – who dropped a danceable album of club hits just as venues began closing in March – and pop shapeshifter Taylor Swift, whose folk-tinged surprise pandemic album appeared to bring her back into the Recording Academy's good graces.

Rapper Roddy Ricch – who won a trophy last year for his collaboration with the late artist Nipsey Hussle – also received six chances at Grammy gold, including for Song of the Year, which honors songwriting, for his hit "The Box."

Beyonce's sweeping "Black Parade" – released in June amid explosive nationwide anti-racism protests after another spate of police killings of Black Americans – will vie for Record and Song of the Year honors on January 31.

"Put your fists up in the air, show Black love," sings Beyonce – the Grammy's most nominated female artist ever with 79 – on the track.

The 39-year-old megastar boasts 24 Grammy wins to her name – but notoriously lost Album of the Year in 2017 to British balladeer Adele, a controversial snub often cited as an example of the Academy's diversity issues. 

Swift, a former Grammy darling whose work the Academy pushed aside in recent years, bagged a coveted Album of the Year nomination for "Folklore." Its single "Cardigan" is up for Song of the Year.

In addition to Beyonce and Ricch, rivals in that category include last year's big winner Billie Eilish and warbling rapper Post Malone.

Bluesy rock singer and songwriter Brittany Howard – known for her leading vocals with the band Alabama Shakes – jumped into the spotlight on her own with five nominations after releasing her first solo album "Jaime."

Justin Bieber snagged four nominations, including his first country nod for his work on the song "10,000 Hours" by Dan and Shay.

After sweeping the general categories at last year's gala Eilish also picked up another four nominations, as did rapper DaBaby.

Following a banner year, Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion received her first Grammy nominations, posting four. The remix of her wildly popular song "Savage" featuring Beyonce is up for several awards including Record of the Year – a collaboration that helped Queen Bey snag the lead spot.

The Black Lives Matter movement appeared to catch the Academy's notice: in addition to Beyonce's Black power anthem, Lil Baby's "The Bigger Picture"– released during the summer's protests – is twice-nominated.

And H.E.R. – the soulful 23-year-old R&B performer with two Grammy wins under her belt – picked up a Song of the Year nod for her BLM-themed song "I Can't Breathe."

Women-led acts posted a strong showing in the top categories, and also swept key nominations by genre, including for Best Country Album and Best Rock Performance.

Californian indie musician Phoebe Bridgers is up for four awards including Best New Artist, and the reclusive Fiona Apple is up for three awards in the rock and alternative categories.

And the K-pop phenomenon BTS received one nomination, for best performance by a pop duo or group.

The nominations were rolled out by stars across the globe speaking via video chat. Trevor Noah is set to host the 63rd annual Grammys, the format of which remains unclear.

Other awards shows have been forced to go partially or fully virtual in light of pandemic restrictions on large gatherings.

The Academy's interim president Harvey Mason Jr dedicated this year's ceremony to the resiliency of the music industry as well as frontline workers combatting the infection's spread.

Here is a list of nominees in the major categories for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards:

- Album of the Year -

Jhene Aiko, "Chilombo"

Black Pumas, "Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)" 

Coldplay, "Everyday Life"

Jacob Collier, "Djesse Vol. 3" 

Haim, "Women In Music Pt. III"

Dua Lipa, "Future Nostalgia"

Post Malone, "Hollywood's Bleeding"

Taylor Swift, "Folklore"

- Record of the Year, recognizing overall performance on a song -

Beyonce, "Black Parade"

Black Pumas, "Colors" 

DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, "Rockstar" 

Doja Cat, "Say So"

Billie Eilish, "Everything I Wanted"

Dua Lipa, "Don't Start Now"

Post Malone, "Circles"

Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonce, "Savage"

- Song of the Year, recognizing songwriting -

Beyonce, Denisia Andrews, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim "Kaydence" Krysiuk and Rickie "Caso" Tice, "Black Parade" 

Roddy Ricch and Samuel Gloade, "The Box"

Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner, "Cardigan"

Post Malone, Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk and Billy Walsh, "Circles"

Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa and Emily Warren, "Don't Start Now" 

Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, "Everything I Wanted" 

H.E.R., Dernst Emile II and Tiara Thomas, "I Can't Breathe"

Julia Michaels and JP Saxe, "If The World Was Ending"

- Best New Artist -

Ingrid Andress

Phoebe Bridgers

Chika

Noah Cyrus

D Smoke

Doja Cat

Kaytranada

Megan Thee Stallion

- Best Music Video -

Beyonce, "Brown Skin Girl"

Future featuring Drake, "Life Is Good"

Anderson .Paak, "Lockdown"

Harry Styles, "Adore You"

Woodkid, "Goliath"

- Best Rap Album -

D Smoke, "Black Habits"

Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, "Alfredo"

Jay Electronica, "A Written Testimony"

Nas, "King's Disease"

Royce Da 5'9", "The Allegory"

- Best Rock Album -

Fontaines DC, "A Hero's Death"

Michael Kiwanuka, "Kiwanuka"

Grace Potter, "Daylight"

Sturgill Simpson, "Sound & Fury"

The Strokes, "The New Abnormal"

- Best Pop Vocal Album -

Justin Bieber, "Changes"

Lady Gaga, "Chromatica"

Dua Lipa, "Future Nostalgia"

Harry Styles, "Fine Line"

Taylor Swift, "Folklore"

- Best Alternative Music Album -

Fiona Apple, "Fetch the Bolt Cutters"

Beck, "Hyperspace"

Phoebe Bridgers, "Punisher"

Brittany Howard, "Jaime"

Tame Impala, "The Slow Rush"

- Best Global Music Album -

Antibalas, "Fu Chronicles"

Burna Boy, "Twice as Tall"

Bebel Gilberto, "Agora"

Anoushka Shankar, "Love Letters"

Tinariwen, "Amadjar"

（With input from AFP）