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It's a huge year for Grammy nominations for D-FW musicians Maren Morris, Demi Lovato, Pentatonix

The hot streak continues for Arlington native Maren Morris. The 26-year old country star from Arlington landed four Grammy nominations when they were announced Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.

Along with a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, the recently crowned CMA Best New Artist is also nominated for Best Country Album for Hero. Her gold-selling single "My Church" netted both a Best Country Solo Performance nod as well as one for Best Country Song.

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Her competition in all categories is tight, especially in the Best New Artist category, where EDM poster-bros The Chainsmokers and indie-rap revolutionary Chance the Rapper are nominated as well.

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Leading all artists with nine nominations, Houston native Beyonce brilliantly finishes off what has been a remarkable year for her and her stellar Lemonade album. 

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The critically-praised and controversial record is nominated for the Grammy's top prize, Album of the Year, along with Adele's 25, Justin Bieber's Purpose, Drake's Views, and in what might be this year's biggest surprise, Sturgill Simpson's A Sailor's Guide to Earth.

Drake, Rhianna, and the always polarizing Kanye West each earned eight nominations.

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Released in the spring, Simpson's major-label debut boasted respectable sales for an artist still finding a national audience outside of the hardcore corners of Americana and traditional country music. With a sound leaning more to soul, classic rock and blues, it's easily the least country-sounding record he has released to date ironically enough. It's not likely many other recent Album of the Year nominees from previous years have sold as little as Simpson's fine nautical-themed album, which was written with his 2-year-old son in mind.

Many notable artists with North Texas ties also received Grammy nominations, in addition to Morris.

Former Lindale-resident Miranda Lambert's sexy "Vice" is up for Best Country Solo Performance, alongside Morris, while the stunning video for Leon Bridge's emotionally moving "River" is up for Video of the Year.

Lambert's "Vice" is also up for Best Country Song.

Locally-based gospel icon Kirk Franklin nabs yet another nomination for Best Gospel Album, as well as multiple rap nominations for "Ultralight Beam," the West track he sings on.

Even less surprising than nominations for Morris and Franklin, however, is that a cappella powerhouse Pentatonix are nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Dolly Parton for their collaboration on the reworked Parton classic "Jolene."

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Demi Lovato also received her first Grammy nomination, for Best Pop Vocal Album for Confident

And Kelly Clarkson, who currently has three Grammys trophies, was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance for her gripping "Piece by Piece" performed on American Idol, which has been viewed online more than 23 million times. (See it below.)

The 59th Grammy Awards will be on TV on Feb. 12 on CBS.

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