The nominees for the 45th Annual Grammy Awards were announced today. Here are the nominees from the Gospel categories... Aside from some hip-hop albums showing up in the rock category, and a notoriously bizarre Pop/Contemporary category (Jars of Clay should have been in Rock), the nominees are somewhat better this year than we've come to expect from the Grammys, which are usually completely out of touch with Christian Music.

Best Rock Gospel Album

• Lift - Audio Adrenaline
• The Art of Translation - Grits
• The Way I Am - Jennifer Knapp
• Come Together - Third Day
• Momentum - tobyMac

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

• New Map of the World - Paul Colman Trio
• The Eleventh Hour - Jars of Clay
• The Christmas Shoes - Newsong
• The Heart Of Me - Kathy Troccoli
• See The Light - True Vibe

Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album

• The Commissioned Reunion "Live" - Commissioned
• Sidebars - Eartha
• Lost And Found - Deitrick Haddon
• Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 - Fred Hammond
• Live And Up Close - BeBe Winans

Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album

• Higher Ground - The Blind Boys Of Alabama
• Walking By Faith - The Canton Spirituals
• Live In Charlotte - Twinkie Clark & Friends
• Live At Home - Dorothy Norwood
• Bishop T.D. Jakes Presents Woman Thou Art Loosed - Worship 2002 - Various Artists

Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album

• Be Glad - Carol Cymbala, choir director; The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
• Family Affair II Live at Radio City Music Hall - Hezekiah Walker, choir director; Love Fellowship Choir
• Go Get Your Life Back - Donald Lawrence, choir director; The Tri-City Singers
• Mighty In The Spirit - John P. Kee, choir director; Victory In Praise Mass Choir
• Soul Interpretations - Bobby Champion, choir director; Excelsior

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album

• How Sweet The Sound: 25 Favorite Hymns And Gospel Greats - The Charlie Daniels Band
• Everything Good - Gaither Vocal Band
• We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album - The Jordanaires, Larry Ford And The Light Crust Doughboys
• An Inconvenient Christmas - The Oak Ridge Boys

Other nominees of interest include: Michelle Branch for Best New Artist and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (with Santana for "The Game of Love," from his album, Shaman); Kirk Whalum for Best Pop Instrumental Performance (for "Playing With Fire" from his album, Unconditional) and Best Pop Instrumental Album for The Christmas Message; U2 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (for "Walk On" from America - A Tribute to Heroes); P.O.D. for Best Hard Rock Performance ("Youth of the Nation" from Satellite) and Best Metal Performance (for "Portrait" from Satellite); Take 6 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (with Stevie Wonder, for "Love's In Need Of Love Today" from America - A Tribute to Heroes); and Lauryn Hill for Best Female Rap Solo Performance (for "Mystery of Iniquity" from MTV Unplugged 2.0).