HORSE SHIT..

• Second big disaster: not a single nomination for Mariah Carey or anything from her "E=MC2" album. Not even a throwaway nod in R&B. Just an outright, across the board snub. What's worse: they put Carey through the agony of participating in the Grammy live telecast last night and then giving her nothing! [...] Of course, there may be more to the snubs than meet the eye. In the cases of Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey, it could be a punishment for appearing on the American Music Awards last month, and accepting awards from them. There has long been an unwritten rule that if an artist did anything with the AMAs, owned by Dick Clark Productions and considered a minor rival, the Grammys wouldn't allow you on their show. What happened on the AMA's: Keys won two "favorite album" awards there, and performed the show ending blockbuster, her "Superwoman," with Queen Latifah and opera diva Kathleen Battle. Carey took home an honorary lifetime award and sang the hell out of "I Stay in Love." (Fox News)

• It's Grammy time again, and each year there are a few nominations (or lack thereof) bound to leave music fans baffled. No mentions of Mariah Carey or Taylor Swift during Wednesday night's concert event, though both appeared on the show. And although Alicia Keys got three nods, including one for her duet with John Mayer, "Lessons Learned," her album didn't make the cut in the major categories! (People)

• In the past, Mariah Carey has won such prestigious awards as best new artist and best contemporary R&B album. She even opened the Grammy nomination special Wednesday night. This year, her "E=MC2" was shut out of major categories. But she wasn't the only R&B star to go unrecognized in top categories by Grammy voters. (Los Angeles Times)

• Mariah Carey and her backup dancers refused to be disheartened by the current economic climate. Carey's Christmas-themed opener featured all the trappings of excess, including fur-trimmed-mini-dresses to shiny red shopping bags. Proving that nothing comes between a diva and her diamond-studded microphone. (The Envelope)

• Mariah Carey, looking very Nancy Sinatra-ish, sang "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" in red jumper and white boots. Great song and Carey sang the heck out of it. But where's Darlene Love, who sang the spectacular, Phil Spector-produced original? Love is alive, well and still performing. How about a duet, at least? How cool would that've been? (Chicago Tribune)

• Mariah Carey, who received no noms for her "E=MC2" album, opened the evening a bit stiffly, singing the Phil Spector-produced Darlene Love classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." (Variety)

• Mariah Carey, who can be thankful that the Best Gospel Performance category--she's up for a group sing-along--saved her from getting zip. (E! Online)