Veteran rock star Carlos Santana leads this year's Grammy nominations - after being shortlisted 10 times for the US music industry's annual awards.

Santana had only received five nominations during his career, winning one in 1988.

But his album Supernatural dramatically changed his fortunes - as has a series of collaborations with some of US music's younger stars.

Pop group TLC were his nearest rivals, on six nominations, including album of the year for Fanmail and best pop performance for the song Unpretty.

Conductor Pierre Boulez also received six nominations for his classical works.

Santana's collaboration with singer Rob Thomas, from the US band Matchbox 20, Smooth, was nominated for record of the year and best pop collaboration with vocals, as well as song of the year and a writing award for Thomas and fellow lyricist Ital Shuur.

His song with the band Everlast - Put Your Lights On - was nominated for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal, and his guitar collaboration with Eric Clapton, The Calling, was nominated for best rock instrumental.

The nominations mark a revival in Santana's career, which was at its height during the 1970s.

His band Santana made waves when they performed at Woodstock in 1969, and albums such as Santana, Abraxas and Caravanserai were both commercial and critical hits.

But he was overlooked by the Grammys until 1988, when he won the best rock instrumental award for Blues For Salvador.

In 1998 he appeared on Lauryn Hill's album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and she returned the favour by appearing on Supernatural. He will be hoping Hill's luck rubs off on him - she won five Grammys last year.

Country act Asleep at the Wheel had five nominations, while the Backstreet Boys, Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Lauryn Hill and Whitney Houston had four. Ricky Martin and Cher had three nominations each.

Teenage superstar Britney Spears will fight her old friend Christina Aguilera for best new artist - the two started their career together on US TV show The Mickey Mouse Club.

British interest will be concentrated on Sting (best pop album and best male pop performance for Brand New Day) and Fatboy Slim (best dance recording and best alternative music performance).

Garbage, fronted by Scottish singer Shirley Manson, are nominated twice for their track Special.

2000's awards are divided into 98 categories, and the ceremony takes place at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on 23 February.

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Leading nominations:

Record of the Year
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Believe - Cher
Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
Smooth - Santana
No Scrubs - TLC


Album of the Year
Millennium - Backstreet Boys
Fly - Dixie Chicks
When I Look in Your Eyes - Diana Krall
Supernatural - Santana
Fanmail - TLC


Song of the Year
I Want It That Way - Andreas Carlsson and Max Martin (Backstreet Boys)
Livin' La Vida Loca - Desmond Child and Robi Rosa (Ricky Martin)
Smooth - Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas (Santana Featuring Rob Thomas)
Unpretty Dallas Austin and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins (TLC)
You've Got A Way Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain (Shania Twain)


New Artist
Christina Aguilera
Macy Gray
Kid Rock
Britney Spears
Susan Tedeschi


Pop Album
Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera
Beautiful Stranger - Madonna
I Will Remember You - Sarah McLachlan
Thank U - Alanis Morissette
...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears


Rock Album
Breakdown - Melissa Etheridge
Significant Other - Limp Bizkit
Echo - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Supernatural - Santana


Rap Album
E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event - The Final World Front) - Busta Rhymes
Da Real World - Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
The Slim Shady LP - Eminem
I Am - Nas
Things Fall Apart - The Roots


Country Album
Ride With Bob - Asleep at the Wheel
Fly - Dixie Chicks
Trio II - Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton
Cold Hard Truth - George Jones
Forget About It - Alison Krauss