Grammy Nominations 2015: Predictions, Performers, TV and Live Stream Info For Christmas Concert Special And Awards Announcements

The 57th annual Grammys aren't until Feb. 8, but the awards show will make a big splash Friday with the announcement of the 2015 nominations. The nominees for the more than 80 awards given each year will be announced in the morning, while a concert special, “A Very Grammy Christmas,” airing at 9 p.m. EST on CBS, will feature a star-studded list of performers and the announcement of nominees for the coveted Album of the Year award.

The festivities kick off Friday at 8:30 a.m. EST when four of the major awards – likely to include Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist – will be announced live on "CBS This Morning." At 2 p.m. EST the nominees for 82 of the remaining 83 awards will be announced and released via the award show’s Twitter.

Newcomer Sam Smith can be expected to come away with nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist with his single, “Stay with Me,” taking over the charts the past year. But he should be up against some heavy hitters for both Song and Record of the Year with Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love,” featuring Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams’ global hit “Happy,” Idina Menzel’s virally popular “Let it Go” and Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” also likely contenders in both categories. Sam Smith should have no competition winning Best New Artist, but other newbies Iggy Azalea, 5 Seconds of Summer and Brantley Gilbert will likely join him with nominations.

The Grammys' big day will conclude with “A Very Grammy Christmas,” during which the nominees for Album of the Year will be announced. The hourlong holiday-themed celebration will be hosted by L.L. Cool J and feature performances by Maroon 5, Ariana Grande, Mary J. Blige, Tim McGraw, Williams and Smith. The special will air on CBS at 9 p.m. EST and a live stream will be available on CBS.com.

The competition for Album of the Year will be fierce. Fiercest of them all is frontrunner Beyoncé with her self-titled album, which is almost certain to be nominated. Country fans can expect Eric Church’s “The Outsider” to be in the mix representing the genre. Oscar darlings Ed Sheeran and Jack White should snag nominations for “x” and “Lazaretto” as well. It will be interesting to see who rounds out the nominations as chart-toppers Sia ("1000 Forms of Fear"), Smith ("In the Lonely Hour") and Katy Perry ("PRISM") will all be in the mix against indie rock giants Arcade Fire (“Reflektor”), who shocked the music world by winning in 2010 with “The Suburbs.”

Who should be nominated for Album of the Year? Tweet your thoughts to @Ja9GarofaloTV.