( CNN ) -- The Grammys may have taken a slow , piecemeal route in issuing nominations Friday , but Beyonce , Taylor Swift , Sam Smith and U2 were very much up to speed . Beyonce led all nominees with six Grammy nods , giving her a total of 53 for her career . That cements her place as the most-nominated female artist in history , the Recording Academy -- which presents the Grammys -- observed in a news release . The last one came with album of the year , which was named Friday night on a concert special , `` A Very Grammy Christmas . '' Beyonce 's self-titled release of late last year made the list , along with Beck 's `` Morning Phase , '' Sam Smith 's `` In the Lonely Hour , '' Pharrell 's `` Girl '' and Ed Sheeran 's `` X . '' Beyonce 's other nominations are for best R & B performance , best R & B song , best urban contemporary album , best surround-sound album and best music film . Newcomer Smith equaled Beyonce with six nominations . His nominations were in the big three -- album record and song of the year -- as well as best new artist , best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album . `` Stay with Me '' was picked for both record and song of the year . And Swift ? Though her album `` 1989 '' came out too late to qualify for the Grammys , her single `` Shake It Off '' did well . It was nominated for song and record of the year . Swift also received a third nomination , for pop solo performance . The other record of the year nominees are `` Fancy '' by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX , `` Chandelier '' by Sia and `` All About That Bass '' by Meagan Trainor . Song of the year nominations -- a songwriter 's honor -- went to `` All About That Bass , '' `` Chandelier , '' `` Shake It Off , '' `` Stay with Me '' and Hozier 's `` Take Me to Church . '' Smith 's competition in the new artist category includes Azalea , Haim , Bastille and Brandy Clark . The old guard , U2 , was n't to be denied . Its album `` Songs of Innocence '' received a nod for best rock album , giving the band 46 nominations -- a record for a group . Even Miley Cyrus got into the act . She received her first Grammy nomination ever for her album `` Bangerz , '' which was nominated for best pop vocal album . The Grammys tried something new this year . Instead of releasing all the nominations at once , the Recording Academy put them out in dribs and drabs : a handful on CBS 's `` This Morning '' and most of the others on Twitter , some through artist accounts . Naturally , the idea earned some criticism . `` This just seems ... odd for such a major show , '' wrote the Washington Post 's Emily Yahr . Nevertheless , the musicians have been appreciative . `` Grammy nom and my album multiply has sold 3 million worldwide as of this morning . Good start to the day , thanks for all the support and love , '' tweeted Ed Sheeran , who was nominated for best pop vocal album . The 57th annual Grammy Awards will air February 8 on CBS .
Beyonce , nominated for six Grammys , is most-nominated female artist ever . Comment: Taylor Swift is up for song and record of the year .