Following the outstanding success of his third album, “Tha Carter III,” rapper Lil Wayne is close to yet another triumph. This time, however, he is the top runner in this year’s Grammy Awards race, as the 26-year-old musician received eight nominations and effortlessly outshone popular acts such as British rock band Coldplay, who was nominated in seven categories, as well as Kanye West, Jay-Z and Ne-Yo, who grabbed six nominations each.

Coldplay’s chart-topping “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends,” Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter III,” Ne-Yo’s “Year of the Gentleman,” Radiohead’s “In Rainbows” and “Raising Sand” by former Led Zeppelin lead vocalist Robert Plant and bluegrass-country singer Alison Krauss will compete for the heavily desired album of the year award, organizers announced during the first national broadcast Grammy nominations on December 3.

Lil Wayne’s great year was definitely helped by the release of a new studio album, which sold 1 million copies in the United States during its first week, and registered the best opening haul of the year.

Record of the year nominees include Coldplay, Adele, who is also a contender for the best new act prize, Leona Lewis, M.I.A., as well as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The latter has collected 21 Grammy statuettes throughout her career and may add five more on February 8, when the awards are scheduled to be handed out.

The hosts of the Grammy nominations, which featured performances by Christina Aguilera, John Mayer and Mariah Carey, were Taylor Swift and LL Cool J.

The 51st Grammy Awards ceremony is due to be broadcast by CBS live from Los Angeeles’ Staples Center.