Fright night as a scantily-clad Lady Gaga takes to the stage at Grammy nominations concert dressed as a zombie

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 3:34 PM on 1st December 2011

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The night may not have belonged to Lady Gaga in terms of Grammy nominations.

But the 25-year-old singer still ensured she pulled out all the stops for a high-energy performance in Los Angeles tonight where the 2012 honours were announced.

The indefatigable singer - who was given nods in two key categories, including album of the year and best pop vocal album - stormed onto the stage dressed as a zombie at the Nokia Theatre.

Flashing the flesh: Lady Gaga was the opening act tonight at the Grammys Nominations Concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles

Stripped bare: The singer emerged in her underwear and in zombie make-up for a rendition of Marry The Night

In customary style, her outfit was a revealing one, consisting of fishnet tights, and a tuxedo jacket worn over her underwear.

Gaga also had her face pained with zombie make-up as she pranced around stage with an army of back-up dancers, opening proceedings with her track Marry The Night.

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Also performing tonight was Rihanna, who really got the party started with lively turn on stage, clad in an outfit split to the thigh.

Lively performance: Gaga - who was nominated in two key categories including album of the year - was joined by an army of backing dancers

Quick chop: Later in the televised show the singer donned a short Marilyn Monroe-style wig

Rihanna was nominated in three key categories, including album of the year and best pop vocal album for Loud, as well as song of the year for her collaboration on All of the Lights with Kanye West.

Of course the real stars of the night were Adele and Kanye - who did not actually attend.

Adele scored six Grammy nominations, including for record, song and album of the year, but the owner of the 2011's best-selling album with '21' wasn't the night's top nominee - and that wasn't the evening's only surprise.

Getting the party started: Rihanna - who received three nods - also graced the stage in a leg-baring outfit

Sultry: She performed a sexy routine with her male backing dancers

West came away with a leading seven nominations, including a bid for song of the year for his all-star song 'All of the Lights.'

However, the album from which it came - 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' heralded by many critics as the best album of 2010 - was shut out of the best album category, and all of his other nominations were relegated to the rap fields.

Other notable omissions in the top categories included country phenomenon Taylor Swift and veteran crooner Tony Bennett.

Achievement: Nicki Minaj was nominated for new artist and best rap album while Katy Perry was honoured with a nomination for her Firework LP in the prestigious album of the year category

Revealed: Nicki Minaj announces the nominees for record of the year

Bruno Mars and the Foo Fighters tied Adele with six nominations each, including in the album of the year category.

Critical-darling folky act Bon Iver scored four nominations, with two in the prestigious record and song of the year categories; and dubstep star Skrillex may have been the night's biggest surprise, getting five nominations, including a bid for best new artist.

The nominations were announced after the Recording Academy's fourth annual live concert special, which aired on CBS from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

Number 1 fan: Minaj was delighted as she was joined on stage by LL Cool J

Making an arrival: LL Cool J had swagger as he posed for cameras and, right, actress Taraji P. Henson donned a form-fitting silver dress

The hour-long event featured key nominees including Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and the Band Perry.

Even though Adele didn't get the lion's share of nominations, she got them where it counted: Her '21,' the mournful post-breakup album that produced smash hits like the torch ballad 'Someone Like You' - was nominated for album of the year.

The searing groove 'Rolling in the Deep,' which spent seven weeks at No. 1 this past summer, got nominations for both record and song of the year. Only Mars got nominations in all three categories as well.

Getting his groove on: Usher was another performer during the Grammy Nominations Concert

Collaboration: He was joined by Valerie Simpson, left, and Mike Stoller to perform during a salute to Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber

Other nominees in the record of the year category included Bon Iver's ballad 'Holocene'; Mars' ballad 'Grenade'; Mumford & Sons' 'The Cave'; and Katy Perry's inspirational anthem 'Firework.'

For song of the year, which honours the writers of the tune, contenders included 'The Cave,' 'Grenade, 'Holocene' and Lady Gaga's 'You and I.'

The best album category was as noteworthy for who was excluded as it was for who was nominated. Lady Gaga garnered her third straight nod in the category for 'Born This Way,' while veteran rockers the Foo Fighters were nominated for 'Wasting Light,' along with Mars' debut album, 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans,' and Rihanna's steamy dance album 'Loud.'

Entertaining: The Band Perry performs - they were nominated in the best new artist category

Delighted: Kimberly Perry, of The Band Perry, slipped into a sparkly blue dress for her performance

Country stars: Siblings Neil, Kimberly and Reid pose in the medida room

Shut out were perceived favourites like 85-year-old Bennett, who became the oldest person to score a No. 1 debut when his 'Duets II' album was released earlier this year, and the megawatt collaboration of Jay-Z and West with the heavily hyped 'Watch The Throne.'

The biggest snub may have been to Swift, who won in the category in 2010 and was considered by some critics to be a favorite for 'Speak Now,' which has sold 3.7 million copies. She did get three nominations, however, including for best country album.

Unlike the past two years, which saw Swift and fellow country act Lady Antebellum soar in the general categories, the only country act that got a mainstream nomination was the country sibling act The Band Perry.

High-energy: From left, Lupe Fiasco, Melle Mel, Scorpio, Common and Grandmaster Flash, in background perform

Honoured: Bruno Mars, pictured at tonight's ceremony, was nominated for a total of six awards

Best known for their poignant ballad 'If I Die Young,' they got a nomination for best new artist. Their competition also includes Bon Iver, Jay-Z rap protégé J. Cole, Skrillex and rapper-singer Nicki Minaj, who scored four nominations in total.

The 54th Grammys will be held February 12 in Los Angeles. The ceremony will mark the first since the academy shaved its categories from 109 to 78 this year, amid some protest. Some of the more niched categories, like best Zydeco or Cajun music album, were eliminated.

In addition, men and women now compete together in vocal categories for pop, R&B and country, instead of having separate categories for each sex.

This year, the category is best pop solo performance and Bruno Mars is the only man nominated for 'Grenade.' His competition includes Adele for 'Someone Like You,' Lady Gaga for 'You and I,' Pink for '(Expletive) Perfect' and Perry for 'Firework.'

Queen of the night: Adele received a total of six nods in some of the most prestigious categories, pictured here earlier this year at the Brit Awards in London

Honourers: Kanye West won a leading seven nominations while, right, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters saw his band nominated for six gongs

GRAMMYS 2012: THE NOMINEES

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
21- Adele
Wasting Light- Foo Fighters
Born This Way- Lady Gaga
Doo-Waps & Hooligans - Bruno Mars
Loud - Rihanna
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Holocene - Bon Iver
Grenade - Bruno Mars
The Cave - Mumford & Sons
Firework - Katy Perry

BEST NEW ARTIST
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J.Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

SONG OF THE YEAR (Songwriter's award)
"All of the Lights" - Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter, Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, featuring Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie)
"The Cave" - Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
"Grenade" - Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Phillip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars, Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
"Holocene" - Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth songwriters (Adele)

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
21 -Adele
The Lady Killer - Cee Lo Green
Born This Way - Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars
Loud- Rihanna

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Rock 'N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul - Jeff Beck
Wasting Light - Foo Fighters
Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon
I'm With You - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
The Whole Love - Wilco

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Codes and Keys - Death Cab For Cutie
Torches - Foster The People
Circuital - My Morning Jacket
The King of Limbs - Radiohead

BEST R&B ALBUM
F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown
Second Chance - El DeBarge
Love Letter - R. Kelly
Pieces of Me - Ledisi
Kelly - Kelly Price

BEST RAP ALBUM
Watch The Throne - Jay-Z and Kanye West
Tha Carter IV - Lil Wayne
Lasers - Lupe Fiasco
Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
Chief - Eric Church
Own The Night - Lady Antebellum
Red River Blue - Blake Shelton
Here For a Good Time - George Strait
Speak Now - Taylor Swift