Latin field is wide open

Without the hip-shaking Shakira, they might have a chance.

The Colombian superstar didn't have an album eligible for a Grammy nomination Thursday in the Latin pop category. That's good news for Mexican alt/pop princess Julieta Venegas and Guatemalan singer/songwriter Ricardo Arjona, both of whom were shut out by Shakira at last month's separate Latin Grammy Awards, which had a different eligibility period.

No single artist dominated the Grammy nominations in the Latin categories Thursday.

But another big winner in last month's awards, the irreverent Puerto Rican rap/reggaeton duo Calle 13, got a nod for eponymous album debut. This time, however, the group is competing in a catch-all field of rock, alternative and urban music that also includes Mexico's top-selling rock band Mana, Venezuela's electro-tropical outfit Los Amigos Invisibles and respected Puerto Rican rapper Tego Calderon.

In the Mexican music category, LA's own Jose Hernandez and his Mariachi Sol de Mexico got a nomination for his 25th anniversary album. He'll be competing with heavy-weights from across the border, including singers Pepe Aguilar and Alicia Villareal.

Shakira's English-language album "Oral Fixation, Vol. 2" didn't get a nomination in any of the marquee categories. She wasn't completely overlooked, though: She got a nomination in the category of best vocal collaboration for her English-language single with Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie."