Grammy Time!

I love Grammy time. Although, I usually care less about the winners than I do about the performances, I decided this year to make some predictions for selected categories that are relevant to Beliefnet (or that I just wanted to sound off on). Please keep in mind, this list is non-scientific and not based on record sales or anything except my own personal love and hate of various artists. Oh yeah, and they don't reflect the opinions of Beliefnet, yada, yada, yada.

Album of the Year

• "The Emancipation Of Mimi," Mariah Carey
• "Chaos And Creation In The Backyard," Paul McCartney
• "Love. Angel. Music. Baby," Gwen Stefani
• "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb," U2
• "Late Registration," Kanye West

My pick: I think my co-workers would start throwing things at me if I went up against U2. So I'd have to choose "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb." For my own safety...

Who will win: "Late Registration," Kanye West. Why? Because Kanye controls America.

Best Gospel Performance

• "Be Blessed," Yolanda Adams
• "Looking For You," Kirk Franklin
• "I Call You Faithful," Donnie McClurkin
• "Lift Him Up," Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir
• "Pray," Cece Winans

My pick: This is a tough one, since this catagory is chock full of talent--more than any of the others. I'd have to go with "Looking For You," Kirk Franklin. I really feel this should be Kirk's year.

Who will win: CeCe Winans. Why? Because she's CeCe Winans.

Best Rock Gospel Album

• "Until My Heart Caves In," Audio Adrenaline
• "Higher Definition," The Cross Movement
• "Day of Fire," Day of Fire
• "Truth Is Fallin' In Tha Streetz," Fresh I.E.
• "Dichotomy B," Grits

My pick: By far one of my favorite albums--including mainstream albums-- of last year was Day of Fire's self-titled debut. This is how Christian rock should be done.

Who will win: "Until My Heart Caves In." Because Audio A will be retiring later this year. It will be a pity win.

Best Rock Song

• "Best of You," Foo Fighters
• "Beverly Hills,"Weezer
• "City of Blinding Lights," U2
• "Devils & Dust," Bruce Springsteen
• "Speed of Sound," Coldplay

My pick: "Beverly Hills," Weezer. I'm rooting for the underdog here.

Who will win: "City of Blinding Lights," U2. Why? Because the people in the Recording Academy who decide the winners want to go to heaven--they'd be stupid to vote against God's favorite band.

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

• "Lifesong," Casting Crowns
• "All I Really Want For Christmas," Steven Curtis Chapman
• "Redemption Songs," Jars of Clay
• "Hymn," Out of Eden
• "Healing Rain," Michael W. Smith
• "Live Wire," Third Day

My pick: I want to say, "Live Wire," because Third Day really knows how to rock (sometimes).

Who will win: "Lifesong," Casting Crowns. To CCM enthusiasts, Casting Crowns is the hottest thing in Christian culture since those WWJD necklaces--which by the way, even Jesus hates.

You can watch the Grammys tonight at 8p.m. ET/PT on CBS.