Grammy Insider

UPDATED 02/01/2010 at 01:00 AM EST • Originally published 02/01/2010 at 01:00 AM EST

GOING FOR THE GOLD

Taylor Swift now sits atop the pop and country charts, but two years ago she was just an awestruck high school senior at her first Grammys. Sparkling in more than $300,000 of bling from Tiffany & Co., Swift, then 18, relished wearing a corset dress because "they just lace you up. I don't have to suck it in—I could eat a burger if I want to." She lost Best New Artist to Amy Winehouse that night, but now with eight nominations (including Album of the Year), her chances of winning couldn't be better. "I remember watching Norah Jones and John Mayer [on TV] and thinking, 'Wouldn't that be amazing?'" Hey, Taylor, get ready to amaze yourself—and us.

Catch the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards

Sunday, Jan. 31, 8 p.m. ET/PT, live on CBS

Beyoncé Knowles'S GREATEST GRAMMY MOMENTS

With 10 chances to add to her trophy case this year, can she top these highlights?

2001

Destiny's Child

After winning two Grammys, Beyoncé told IN STYLE they celebrated "by eating a good meal."

2004

Trophy Triumph

Her first solo album, Dangerously In Love, hauled in a whopping five Grammys. "I'm shaking!" she told PEOPLE afterward.

2004

Prince

"I still can't believe it happened," she said of her supercharged set with the Purple One.

2008

Tina Turner

Beyoncé said her duet with the still-stunning 70-year-old was "something I've wanted to do for years."

THE GAGA SIDECAR

Mixologist Charlotte Voisey concocted this fun drink with whiskey, a Lady Gaga fave

• 1 oz. rye whiskey

• 1 oz. Stoli Gala Applik

• ½ oz. lemon juice

• ½ oz. simple syrup (Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1 cup boiling water and cool.)

Shake ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with cotton candy or apple gummy candy. Gaga up!

MUSICARES HONOREE Neil Young

During Grammy weekend, Neil Young will be honored for his musical legacy. But that's not the only way the rocker's changed the world. If it weren't for Neil ...

Dads would have less to do on Christmas. Young, whose disabled son is a model-train fanatic, saved Lionel Trains from bankruptcy in 1995.

The spider world wouldn't be as cool. In 2007 Young's activism inspired a professor to name a species Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi.

There would be no Thinkin' Lincoln. Young converted a 1959 Lincoln Continental into a green car and is actively pursuing hybrid technology with a project called LincVolt.

WHERE I KEEP MY GRAMMY

will.i.am

Already honored with four gramophones, he's up for six more with the Black Eyed Peas

How did you decide where to put your Grammys?

When I was little we lived in the projects, and my grandma had a china cabinet she really took pride in. I have one similar to hers, but it's gold-leaf.

Do you clean them?

The cabinet is high-tech: It sprays the trophies.

Seriously?

No, somebody cleans them. I wouldn't take care of them [well].

Ever loan them out?

No. But it's just metal. I'm not like, "Don't put your hands on them."

How did it feel to win?

It was sentimental being there with Ap, Taboo and Fergie. We've never won [in prime time]—but it could happen this year!

"In our apartment hallway in two vintage cases I love"

—MARIAH CAREY

"I have a music-room curio cabinet. If anyone wants to see them, they're all displayed nicely"

—CARRIE UNDERWOOD

"[U2's 22 are] in our Dublin office for people to see. In my house, not so much"

—BONO

"On my baby grand in my living room. I let them get a little tarnished so they have character"

—SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS

People.com POLL

LOVE IT or HATE IT?

Simon leaving 79% HATE IT!

46%

Owl City's "Fireflies"

LOVE IT!

81%

The "$" in Ke$ha

HATE IT!

Who would you most want to see perform with Lady Gaga?

27%

ADAM LAMBERT

Runners-up: Patti "Lady Marmalade" LaBelle (25%); Susan Boyle (24%); Jay-Z (24%).

If the Grammys had an award for Sexiest Video, who would take it home?

65% Britney for "WOMANIZER"

Runners-up: Ciara featuring Justin Timberlake, "Love Sex Magic" (22%); Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody" (9%); Maxwell, "Pretty Wings" (4%).

WHICH NOMINEE IS THE MOST LIKELY TO PULL A KANYE ON GRAMMY NIGHT?

53% Kanye

Runners-up: Kathy Griffin (26%); Eminem (16%); Stephen Colbert (5%).

WHICH PAIR DO YOU HOPE MAKES THEIR AWARD-SHOW DEBUT AT THE GRAMMYS?

53% Carrie Underwood & Mike Fisher

Runners-up: Katy Perry & Russell Brand (27%); Rihanna & Matt Kemp (13%); Jared Followill & Julianne Hough (7%).

WHO WILL WIN ALBUM OF THE YEAR?

27% Dave Matthews Band

WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO WATCH THE GRAMMYS WITH?

43% Pink

Runners-up: Brad Paisley (26%); Jamie Foxx (18%); Kings of Leon (13%).