Katy Perry almost popped out of her dress last night as she announced the Grammy Awards nominations in Los Angeles

Katy Perry almost popped out of her dress last night as she announced the Grammy Awards nominations in Los Angeles.

The 25-year-old singer only just covered her modesty with a strapless mini-dress as she announced the best rock album nominees.

They will battle it out with, amongst others, Irish rockers U2 who were nominated for the studio recording No Line on the Horizon.

The winners of the 52nd Grammy Awards will be announced on January 31 at a ceremony at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

For the second straight year the nominations in the main categories were read out during a glitzy showbiz bash in Los Angeles.

Hosted by rap star LL Cool J, those attending included many of the acts nominated and music grandees such as Motown great Smokey Robinson and former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.

The event included a tribute to Michael Jackson by Maxwell. The r’n’b star sang the late King of Pop’s The Lady In My Life from the multiple Grammy winning album Thriller.

Maxwell was announced as a nominee in the Song of the Year category for his comeback hit Pretty Wings.

But he faces tough competition, with Beyonce’s Single Ladies, Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, Swift’s You Belong With Me and Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody all given a nod in the category.

Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Swift will also fight it out in the Record of the Year category – where they are joined again by the Kings of Leon, and the Black Eyed Peas.

It is a similar line up in the Album of the Year section. Beyonce’s I Am…Sasha Fierce goes up against Lady Gaga’s The Fame and Swift’s Fearless.

Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King and the Black Eyed Peas’ The E.N.D complete the nominations in the category.

In the Best Rock Album section, U2 and Clapton/Winwood are joined by Green Day, the Dave Matthews Band and ageing Aussie rockers AC/DC.

Best Group or Duo Performance with Vocals sees an eclectic mix of nominees, featuring Black Eyed Peas – who in total gained six nominations – Bon Jovi, The Fray, MGMT and Daryl Hall & John Oates.

It was later announced that British band The Ting Tings were in the running for the Best New Artist gong.

The duo have built up a strong following through punk pop anthems including That’s Not My Name and Shut Up and Let Me Go

They face competition in the category in the form of county act Zac Brown Band, rockers MGMT and Silversun Pickups and r’n’b singer Keri Hilson.

Despite being possibly the year’s most high profile breakthrough artist, Lady Gaga was not eligible to compete for Best New Artist on account of being nominated last year for the single Just Dance.

At present former Grammy nominees cannot be up for the newcomer category.

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said the scenario is unlikely to occur in the future.

“There will be some changes so that that particular situation won’t repeat itself,” he said.

In all, there are some 109 categories in this year’s Grammy Awards.

The Ting Tings aside, British representation came in the form of artists who made their names prior to the turn of the millennium.

Essex electro-pop pioneers Depeche Mode received a brace of nominations in the sections for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Video. Coldplay were also given a nod for the video of Life in Technicolor II.

Elsewhere the Pet Shop Boys’ Yes was revealed as a contender for Best Electronic Dance Album. But it is likely that Lady Gaga’s The Fame will be tipped to get the gong come award night.

Clapton and Winwood received a second nomination in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals category.

Meanwhile Elvis Costello is in the running for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Highlights in the non-musical categories include the list for Best Spoken Word Album in which actor Michael J Fox and former president Jimmy Carter both received a nod.