Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.

Live chat with World-Herald music writer Kevin Coffey during the awards ceremony.

Watch the awards ceremony starting at 7 p.m. on CBS. Kevin's live chat begins at 7 p.m. on Omaha.com.

* * *

After you cut through all of the red carpet dresses and tons of performances (a duet between Coldplay and Rihanna, anyone?), they actually give out a bunch of trophies at the Grammy Awards.

The performances — this year, it's Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars, Foo Fighters and tons more — are what bring on the ratings, but the whole point of the night is to honor the best music from the last year.

In that vein, I've combed through 20 of the most popular Grammy categories to predict who I think will take home the golden gramophone trophies. (And since the Recording Academy doesn't always get it right, I'll tell you who should win the awards, too.)

My batting average with Grammy predictions is typically about .500. I'm gonna swing for the fences and, hopefully, I'll do better this Sunday night.

Record of the Year Goes to the performer and/or producer of the best song.

"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele · "Holocene" by Bon Iver · "Grenade" by Bruno Mars "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons · "Firework" by Katy Perry

Who should win: Adele's the most popular here, but Bon Iver's got the best song. I could go either way.

Who will win: Adele. She's captured everyone's attention.

Album of the Year Goes to the artist and/or producer of the best album.

"21" by Adele · "Wasting Light" by Foo Fighters · "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga · "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" by Bruno Mars · "Loud" by Rihanna

Who should win: Foo Fighters and Lady Gaga have the best albums from start to finish. Who will win: Adele. She's too big to fail. Though I could see Gaga sneaking in a win here.

Song of the Year goes to the best songwriter, who may not necessarily be the performer.

"All of the Lights" by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter · "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons "Grenade" by Bruno Mars, Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Andrew Wyatt · "Holocene" by Bon Iver · "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele, Paul Epworth

Who should win: Again, Adele and Bon Iver have the best songs. Who will win: Probably Adele. Again.

Best New Artist

The Band Perry · Bon Iver · J. Cole · Nicki Minaj · Skrillex

Who should win: It's cool to see Bon Iver and Skrillex nominated. Who will win: Nicki Minaj. She's huge and she's got that extra something that makes her special.

Best Rock Performance

"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" by Coldplay · "Down By the Water" by The Decemberists · "Walk" by Foo Fighters · "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons · "Lotus Flower" by Radiohead

Who should win: Coldplay, Decemberists and Foo Fighters all put out great tracks though Foo has the most rocking one. Who will win: Foo Fighters have a lot going for them even though Radiohead is a critical darling (though this critic's not a big fan).

We made you a Grammy mixtape. Because, you know, we sorta like you, and we want to show you how we feel using the power of music.

>> Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

“On the Backs of Angels” by Dream Theater

“White Limo” by Foo Fighters

“Curl of the Burl” by Mastodon

“Public Enemy No. 1” by Megadeth

“Blood In My Eyes” by Sum 41

Who should win: How is Sum 41 even nominated? Megadeth should probably take this one.

Who will win: Foo Fighters is the most mainstream, so I see them getting it.


>> Best Rock Song

“The Cave” by Mumford & Sons

“Down By the Water” by The Decemberists

“Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall” by Coldplay

“Lotus Flower” by Radiohead

“Walk” by Foo Fighters

Who should win: My favorite is The Decemberists ...

Who will win: ... but I think Foo Fighters have the more broad appeal here. They'll take home the trophy.


>> Best Rock Album

Rock ‘N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul” by Jeff Beck

“Wasting Light” by Foo Fighters

“Come Around Sundown” by Kings Of Leon

“I'm With You” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

“The Whole Love” by Wilco

Who should win: The Foo Fighters' album is the best one in the category.

Who will win: Though Kings of Leon and Wilco seem to be academy favorites, this one will go to Foo Fighters. Though the academy does like Jeff Beck.


>> Best Alternative Music Album

“Bon Iver” by Bon Iver

“Codes and Keys”

by Death Cab for Cutie

“Torches” by Foster the People

“Circuital” by My Morning Jacket

“The King of Limbs” by Radiohead

Who should win: Bon Iver's album was one of the best in 2011.

Who will win: This one's hard. Radiohead is a critical darling. Bon Iver's getting lots of attention. In the end, it goes to either Bon Iver or the poppy Foster the People.


>> Best Pop Solo Performance

“Someone Like You” by Adele

“Yoü and I” by Lady Gaga

“Grenade” by Bruno Mars

“Firework” by Katy Perry

“F***in' Perfect” by Pink

Who should win: Gaga's is a pop anthem. Adele's is wonderfully performed. Perry's was a huge pop hit. I'd give it to all three if I could.

Who will win: Adele: probably. Perry: maybe.


>> Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Body and Soul” by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse

“Dearest” by The Black Keys

“Paradise” by Coldplay

“Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People

“Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera

Who should win: “Paradise” or “Pumped Up Kicks.” Both are great.

Who will win: Probably Bennett and Winehouse because of sympathy over her death.


>> Best Pop Vocal Album

“21” by Adele

“The Lady Killer” by Cee Lo Green

“Born This Way” by Lady Gaga

“Doo-Wops & Hooligans” by Bruno Mars

“Loud” by Rihanna

Who should win: Adele. She's the best singer on the list.

Who will win: Adele, because she's the best singer on the list.


>> Best Rap Performance

“Look at Me Now” by Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes

“Otis” by Jay-Z & Kanye West

“The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco

“Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj & Drake

“Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa

Who should win: “Otis” is a wonderful mix of soul and hip-hop. I could also go for “Black and Yellow” as none of us could stop playing this one.

Who will win: “Otis.”


>> Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

“Party” by Beyoncé & André 3000

“Im on One” by DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne

“I Need a Doctor” by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Skylar Grey

“What's My Name” by Rihanna & Drake

“Motivation” by Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne

“All of the Lights” by Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Fergie

Who should win: “I Need a Doctor” has an incredible hook and even better rap verses.

Who will win: “I Need a Doctor.”


>> Best Rap Song

“All of the Lights” by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter

“Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa, Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen

“I Need a Doctor” by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Skylar Grey, Alexander Grant

“Look at Me Now” by Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Jean Baptiste, Ryan Buendia, Wesley Pentz, Nick Van De Wall

“Otis” by Jay-Z & Kanye West

“The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco, Dustin William Brower, Jonathan Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson

Who should win: Either “Otis” or “I Need a Doctor.”

Who will win: Everyone loved Jay-Z and Kanye's collaboration, so I bet it will be “Otis.”


>> Best Rap Album

“Watch the Throne” by Jay-Z & Kanye West

“Tha Carter IV” by Lil Wayne

“Lasers” by Lupe Fiasco

“Pink Friday” by Nicki Minaj

“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” by Kanye West

Who should win: “Watch the Throne.”

Who will win: “Pink Friday.”


>> Best Country Solo Performance

“Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean

“I'm Gonna Love You Through It” by Martina McBride

“Honey Bee” by Blake Shelton

“Mean” by Taylor Swift

“Mama's Strong” by Carrie Underwood

Who should win: Aldean's “Dirt Road Anthem” is a pretty cool song and an unusual one for a country artist.

Who will win: Taylor Swift. People love Taylor Swift.


>> Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Don't You Wanna Stay” by Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson

“You and Tequila” by Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter

“Barton Hollow” by The Civil Wars

“Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” by Thompson Square

Who should win: “Barton Hollow” is not the best Civil Wars song, but it is great. And so is Thompson Square's “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.”

Who will win: Thompson Square. They're going places.


>> Best Country Song

“Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” by Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy (performed by Thompson Square)

“God Gave Me You” by Dave Barnes (performed by Blake Shelton)

“Just Fishin'” by Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell, Ed Hill (performed by Trace Adkins)

“Mean” by Taylor Swift

“Threaten Me With Heaven” by Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley, Dillon O'Brian

“You and Tequila” by Matraca Berg, Deana Carter (performed by Kenny Chesney)

Who should win: “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not”

Who will win: Taylor Swift. Again.


>> Best Country Album

“My Kinda Party” by Jason Aldean

“Chief” by Eric Church

“Own the Night” by Lady Antebellum

“Red River Blue” by Blake Shelton

“Here for a Good Time” by George Strait

“Speak Now” by Taylor Swift

Who should win: Bad boy Eric Church. He put out a fantastic album.

Who will win: It would be very surprising if Taylor Swift didn't take this one home, too.