LOS ANGELES (AP) – Alicia Keys was chasing a record Grammy haul – she could win more than any other woman in one evening – as one of many subplots playing out at Sunday’s ceremonies.

Three years ago, Keys won five Grammys for her debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” becoming only the second woman to win that many in one night. This year she was nominated for eight awards, including album and song of the year.

Usher was seeking to dominate the Grammys as he did the record charts in 2004. His “Confessions,” the best-selling album of last year, also was nominated for eight Grammys.

Another multiple nominee was the late legend Ray Charles, whose posthumously released “Genius Loves Company,” a duets album featuring Norah Jones, Gladys Knight, Willie Nelson, Elton John and others, turned out to be the best-selling record of his career. It was nominated for album of the year, along with Green Day’s “American Idiot,” the politically charged rock opera credited with reviving the rock scene.

But the most nominated artist of the year may be the most multifaceted – Kanye West, the songwriter-producer who made his rap debut in 2004 with the cutting-edge CD “The College Dropout. West was nominated for a leading 10 Grammys, including album of the year.

West, Usher, Keys and Green Day were all slated to perform Sunday. Also planned was a special tribute to Charles, whose life was also the subject of the Oscar-nominated “Ray” last year. Other expected performers were Grammy-nominated acts such as U2; best-new artist nominees Maroon 5, Gretchen Wilson, and Joss Stone; and newlyweds Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.

There also was slated a special performance to raise funds to help the victims of last December’s tsunami disaster featuring Stevie Wonder, Bono, Keys, Brian Wilson and others.