Joss Stone up for best new artist award at Grammys

The teenage British soul sensation Joss Stone's success in the US was cemented yesterday when she scooped a nomination for the best new artist Grammy.

The teenage British soul sensation Joss Stone's success in the US was cemented yesterday when she scooped a nomination for the best new artist Grammy.

Her debut album, Soul Sessions, took America by storm, going gold after a number of celebrity fans sang her praise. The album, which went on to sell 2.5 million worldwide, not only revived old soul tunes but has been credited with renewing interest in the genre.

The 17-year-old from Devon faces competition in the category from producer-turned-rapper Kanye West, who collected 10 nominations, Gretchen Wilson, country's self-proclaimed "Redneck Woman", Los Lonely Boys and Maroon5.

Ray Charles, whose posthumous album, Genius Loves Company, became the biggest-selling record of his long career, received seven nominations, including record and album of the year and one for record of the year for "Here We Go Again", which he sung with Norah Jones.

Charles, who died this year, is receiving plenty of media attention because he is the subject of a new film, Ray, by the director Taylor Hackford.

But it is the Chicago rapper West who is now the hot favourite for several Grammys.

He survived a near-fatal car crash to record The College Dropout, which has been nominated for album of the year.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Usher and Alicia Keys received eight nominations each.