R. Kelly: Soul (Train) Man

02/03/2006 12:00 PM, E! Online
Julie Keller

The Teflon R. Kelly is cruising on the Soul Train. The R&B star, embroiled in an ongoing kiddie porn case, leads the nomination list for the 20th Annual Soul Train Music Awards.

Kelly snapped up three nods, for R&B Soul Album for TP.3 Reloaded, Best Male R&B/Soul Single and the Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video--and no, it's not for the widely circulated footage that got Kelly in hot water with authorities but has not affected his commercial viability.

The latter two nods were for Kelly's so-called urban opera "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1 of 5)," a convoluted tune--and video--about a wacky love triangle.

Kelly, who earned just one Grammy nomination, was also tapped as the recipient of the inaugural Stevie Wonder Award for outstanding career achievements in song writing, which will be presented by the legend himself during the ceremony.

John Legend, Mariah Carey and Kanye West, who tied with a leading eight nominations going into next Wednesday's Grammys, each racked up two Soul Train nods.

Additionally, Legend will be presented with the 2006 Sammy Davis Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award.

Also doubling their Soul nomination pleasure were the Black Eyed Peas, Keyshia Cole, Missy Elliott, Charlie Wilson, Bobby Valentino and Gwen Stefani.

Meanwhile, organizers announced that the Quincy Jones Award for career achievement will be doled out to Jamie Foxx, who has all of two albums to his credit, and Destiny's Child, which is calling it quits after a decade.

Founded by Soul Train mastermind Don Cornelius, the awards honor the best in R&B, hip-hop, rap and gospel.

Nominations and winners are based on a survey of radio programmers, talent managers and artists. The awards will be handed out Mar. 4 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Highlights will air in syndication from Mar. 11 through Mar. 19.

Here's the complete list of nominess:

R&B/Soul Single, Female:
"We Belong Together," Mariah Carey
"I Should Have Cheated," Keyshia Cole
"Unbreakable," Alicia Keys

R&B/Soul Single, Male:
"Charlie, Last Name Wilson," Charlie Wilson
R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo:
"Supastar," Floetry Featuring Common
"Don't Cha," The Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes

R&B/Soul Album, Female:
The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey
The Way It Is, Keyshia Cole
The First Lady, Faith Evans
Free Yourself, Fantasia

R&B/Soul Album, Male:
Soulife, Anthony Hamilton
TP.3 Reloaded, R. Kelly
Get Lifted, John Legend
Charlie, Last Name Wilson, Charlie Wilson

R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo:
Pleasure & Pain, 112
Monkey Business, Black Eyed Peas
Illumination, Earth, Wind & Fire
Livin' the Luxury Brown, Mint Condition

R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist:
Chris Brown
Leela James
Lyfe Jennings
Bobby Valentino

The Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video:
"Testify," Common
"Lose Control," Missy Elliott Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
"Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1 of 5)," R. Kelly
"Gold Digger," Kanye West Featuring Jamie Foxx

R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut:
"My Humps," Black Eyed Peas "Lose Control," Missy Elliott Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
"Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani
"Gold Digger," Kanye West

Gospel Album:
One Church, Kurt Carr
Project Hero, Kirk Franklin
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs, Donnie McClurkin
Purified, CeCe Winans