I may not be staying up to watch the Grammy’s but I figured I’d give in my 2 cents as to what will be awarded big time tonight. Some of the categories are a lock, others are more of a toss-up. Either way, it should be interesting.

The night, however, will be tainted by the passing of Whitney Houston. I’m not sure if a last minute tribute will be planned for her.

Without further ado, and after checking out the nominees, here are my predictions for some of the categories:

Record of the Year: Rolling In The Deep – Adele

This it the year’s biggest hit. None of the other nominees comes close in terms of critical acclaim and public reception. Add to it Adele’s contestants being Bruno Mars and Katy Perry and she becomes more than a lock. Sure, the Grammy’s do not always reward the most successful act. But Adele managed this year to bridge critical acclaim with commercial success. It will translate in a few trophies tonight, this being the first.

Album of the Year: 21 – Adele

With other nominees including Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, Rihanna’s Loud and Bruno Mars’ Doo-Wops & Hooligans, not only is Adele’s critically acclaimed and biggest selling album of the year a lock for this, but it would actually be absurd to think anyone else has a chance. What gives Adele an edge over any of the other nominees in this is that she is an artist the Grammy’s can feel safe in showering with awards. She has album of the year in the bag.

Song of the Year: Rolling in the Deep – Adele

As I said, the Grammy’s this year will be Adele-domination night. She will be winning everything. End of story. The fact that this was the biggest crossover hit in the United States in the past 25 years will only add fuel to Adele’s dominating fire.

Best New Artist: The Band Perry

Country acts usually have an advantage when it comes to being awarded best new artist at the Grammy’s because they are usually the ones with the most secure future ahead. Case in point: in the last five years, 2 country acts have won this award: Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band. Other winners include Adele, Amy Winehouse and last year’s Esperanza Spalding. Why I think The Band Perry will win is because the Grammy’s tend to overlook pop/hip-hop acts that make it big (Nicki Minaj) and The Band Perry have a great hit under their belt in the form of If I Die Young. A very close second would be Bon Iver.

Best Pop Solo Performance: Someone Like You – Adele

Seeing as this is a category that rewards the vocal performance of a song, it’s easy to see how one can overlook Katy Perry’s Firework. Among the other songs/artists, no one has as big a momentum as Adele. Therefore, it should be an easy win for her – not to mention that Someone Like You is a stunning song as it is.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Body and Soul – Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse

You know the Grammy’s will want to award Winehouse a final time, four years after choosing her for Best New Artist, through her last studio recording.

Best Pop Vocal Album: 21 – Adele

She’s going to win album of the year. There’s no way she won’t win this.

Best Rock Performance: The Cave – Mumford & Songs

The fact that this is nominated for both record and song of the year gives this category away. My favorite is Radiohead’s Lotus Flower, though.

Best Rock Album: Come Around Sundown – Kings of Leon

This album may not have found the success proportions of their previous offering but I still see it winning this category.

Best Alternative Album: Torches – Foster The People

Although I prefer Radiohead’s The King of Limbs, it’s easy to see how the success of Pumped Up Kicks would translate into a win here.

Best Rap Performance: Look At Me Now – Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes

Because Busta Rhymes’ verses are almost impossible to sing?

Best Country Solo Performance: Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood is what they call a Grammy’s darling. She has performed five times at the Grammy’s in the past six years, four of those being in four consecutive years. And when she attended, she never left empty-handed. With the Grammy’s merging several country vocal categories and Mama’s Song finding its way to a nomination, I think Carrie will win this. It doesn’t hurt that Mama’s Song is a great performance.

Best Country Album: My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean

Following a win at the CMAs for this award and beating the same nominees, Jason Aldean should win this as well.

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson

Similarly to the album category, this duet has won this same category at every country award show. Those wins should carry over here.

Best Folk Album: Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars have this in the bag. Their album has garnered critical acclaim and found its way to mainstream success, despite being part of an indie label.