R. KELLY LEADS WITH THREE SOUL TRAIN MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES

By: Janine Coveney

R. Kelly has earned three nominations for the 20th annual Soul Train Music Awards, set for March 4th at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Kelly led the pack with a nomination for his album, TP.3 Reloaded, while his "Trapped In The Closet (Chapters 1 -5)" picked up two nominations for Best Male Ramp;B-Soul Single and Best Ramp;B-Soul or Rap Music Video. Kelly will also receive a special honor, the first-ever Stevie Wonder Award for songwriting, to be presented by the Motown legend himself.

Several artists were two-time nominees in the slate announced Thursday in Los Angeles by Soul Train producer Don Cornelius and special guests Tyrese and Vivica A. Fox. Among the double nominees are Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliott, Charlie Wilson, and Bobby Valentino.

Jamie Foxx and outgoing group Destiny's Child will receive honors for career achievement from Oscar-winning music impresario Quincy Jones, while the Sammy Davis, Jr., Entertainer of the Year award will be presented to John Legend.

The complete list of nominees for the 2006 Soul Train Music Awards are:

RnB-soul single, female:

Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
Keyshia Cole, "I Should Have Cheated"
Alicia Keys, "Unbreakable"
Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"

RnB-soul single, male:

R. Kelly, "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1 of 5)"
John Legend, "Ordinary People"
Bobby Valentino, "Slow Down"
Charlie Wilson, "Charlie, Last Name Wilson"
RnB-soul single, group, band or duo:
Destiny's Child, "Cater 2 U"
Floetry featuring Common, "Supastar"
Nina Sky featuring Pitbull, "Turning'Me On"
The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes, "Don't Cha"

RnB-soul album, female:

The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey
The Way It Is, Keyshia Cole
The First Lady, Faith Evans
Free Yourself, Fantasia
RnB-soul album, male:
Soulife, Anthony Hamilton
TP.3 Reloaded, R. Kelly
Get Lifted, John Legend
Charlie, Last Name Wilson, Charlie Wilson

RnB-soul album, group, band or duo:

Pleasure amp; Pain, 112
Monkey Business, Black Eyed Peas
Illumination, Earth, Wind amp; Fire
Livin' the Luxury Brown, Mint Condition
RnB-soul or rap new artist:
"Run It," Chris Brown
"Music," Leela James
"Must Be Nice," Lyfe Jennings
"Slow Down," Bobby Valentino

RnB-soul or rap music video:

"Testify," Common
"Lose Control," Missy Elliott featuring Ciara and Fat Man Scoop
"Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1 of 5)," R. Kelly
"Gold Digger," Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx

RnB-soul or rap dance cut:

"My Humps," Black Eyed Peas
"Lose Control," Missy Elliott featuring Ciara and Fat Man Scoop
"Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani
"Gold Digger," Kanye West

Gospel album:

One Church, Kurt Carr Project
Hero, Kirk Franklin
Psalms, Hymns amp; Spiritual Songs, Donnie McClurkin
Purified, CeCe Winans