Kanye West tops Grammy nominations

New York – Grammy night was shaping up as high drama after Kanye West and Amy Winehouse – two of music’s most gifted and volatile performers – were nominated for a leading eight and six trophies respectively.

Other top nominees at the Los Angeles announcement included the Foo Fighters, whose five nominations included mentions for album and record of the year; Justin Timberlake, who also got five, including record of the year for “What Goes Around Comes Around”; Rihanna, who received four nominations, including record of the year for her ubiquitous “Umbrella” anthem; and jazz legend Herbie Hancock, who surprisingly made it into the album of the year category for his Joni Mitchell tribute album.

Jay-Z, rapper-producer Timbaland and singer-songwriter Ne-Yo also received five nominations each. Bruce Springsteen, whose absence from the best album category was noteworthy, received four nominations, along with Akon, Chris Daughtry, Feist, Tim McGraw, Akon, Dierks Bentley and John Newton.

West, well known for his angry outbursts when snubbed at awards shows, most recently lashed out at the MTV Video Music Awards. But his year turned tragic last month when his mother and manager, Donda West, died at 58 after undergoing plastic surgery.

Winehouse also had a tumultuous 2007, when reports of hard partying became frequent and she canceled tour dates because of “health concerns.”

The Grammys will celebrate its 50th year when the awards are announced Feb. 10. The broadcast is to be carried live on CBS.

Victoria Beckham sleeps in the buff for hubby

New York – Victoria Beckham goes to bed naked. And she’s got a very good reason – her husband.

“You don’t sleep with David Beckham,” the 33-year-old Posh Spice tells Elle magazine in its January issue, on newsstands Tuesday. “I’m going to be naked if I’m getting in bed with him every night!”

The Beckhams and their three young sons moved to Los Angeles this summer when her soccer-superstar husband signed to play with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“I’m very proud to be British, but here it’s a lot more relaxed,” she says. “It’s the happiest as a family that we’ve ever been. I just love America.”

She is now on tour with the newly reunited Spice Girls.

“I wanted my children to see that Mummy was a pop star,” she says. “It was the last opportunity for them to stand in a crowd full of people screaming for the Spice Girls.”

Joel releases anti-war song, but doesn’t sing it

New York – Billy Joel has released a new pop single, the anti-war “Christmas in Fallujah.” Just don’t expect to hear his voice on it.

At 58, Joel felt he was too old to sing the song, which was inspired by letters the Piano Man received from soldiers in Iraq. So he gave it to Cass Dillon, a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Long Island.

“I thought it should be somebody young, about a soldier’s age,” Joel said in a statement on his Web site. “I wanted to help somebody else’s career. I’ve had plenty of hits. I’ve had plenty of airplay. I’ve had my time in the sun. I think it’s time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience.”

“Christmas in Fallujah” went on sale Tuesday on Apple Inc.’s iTunes. Net proceeds will be donated to Homes for Our Troops, which builds homes for severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Judge dismisses lawsuit against Kid Rock

New Orleans – A federal judge has dismissed a Louisiana musician’s copyright infringement lawsuit against Kid Rock, ruling Troy Landry didn’t prove that the rapper’s “Somebody’s Gotta Feel This” was a rip off of his own music.

“The works are not so strikingly or substantially similar as to preclude independent creation,” U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon wrote in her ruling this week.

Lemmon cited expert testimony from both sides, plus her side-by-side review of the songs from which she concluded “a layman would not view the works as substantially similar.”

An attorney for Landry didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.

Landry sued Atlantic Recording Corp., Kid Rock (whose real name is Robert Ritchie) and others in 2004, claiming an eight-second portion of Kid Rock’s “Somebody’s Gotta Feel This,” featured in a beer commercial, was “strikingly or substantially similar” to songs Landry released on a 1994 record.

Ex-‘Idol’ finalist Sierra pleads not guilty

Tampa, Fla. – Jessica Sierra has pleaded not guilty to charges in a weekend fracas with three Tampa police officers outside a nightclub.

Sierra, a former “American Idol” finalist, is charged with disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest and violating conditions of her parole on earlier felony battery and possession charges.

Attorney John Fitzgibbons said Thursday he is consulting with doctors to plan a comprehensive drug and alcohol program for Sierra.

She is being held without bail and will remain in jail at least until her next hearing, scheduled for Dec. 20.

Sierra was a finalist on “American Idol” in 2005. She entered a California rehab facility in July that was to be documented on VH1’s reality show “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” next year.