Latin Grammy awards Thursday

NEW YORK - Shakira's "La Tortura," a smoldering duet with fellow superstar

Alejandro Sanz, vied for both record and song of the year honors at Thursday's Latin Grammy awards, two of her leading five nominations for the night.

Shakira was also nominated for album of the year for her acclaimed album "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1," but perhaps her biggest hit, this year's smash "Hips Don't Lie," was not among the songs nominated at the sixth annual Latin

Grammys, which honors Spanish- and Portuguese-language speaking artists.

Other top nominees include Mexican accordion player Julieta Venegas, nominated for four awards, including record of the year for "Me voy"; and Guatemalan singer

Ricardo Arjona, who also had four nominations, including a record of the year bid for "Acompaname a estar solo."

Other nominees for record of the year include "Te mando flores" by Colombian singer Fonseca, and "Mas que nada," the comeback record by Brazilian music great Sergio Mendes with the Black Eyed Peas.

This year marks the first time the Latin Grammys have been held in New York City — in the past, it has alternated between Miami and Los Angeles. Latin Recording Academy President Gabriel Abaroa has noted that a long list of important Latin music stars have made their homes in New York, including the late legends Tito Puente and Celia Cruz.

Thursday's show, which will be broadcast live by Univision television, will include a salsa tribute featuring Willie Colon, the Fania All-Stars and la India, as well as a special reggaeton performance featuring Ivy Queen, Wisin & Yandel, and Hector "El Father."

Other stars slated to perform include

Ricky Martin, Shakira,

Andrea Bocelli, Thalia and the rock group Mana.

This is the second straight year Univision has broadcast the awards. Ratings lagged in 2004 when the Latin

Grammy Awards were broadcast in English by CBS. But the show attracted more than 5 million watchers in 2005 — its first year in Spanish — up from about 3.2 million in 2004, according ratings agency Nielsen Media Research.

Univision was offering optional English subtitles.

Musicians from Puerto Rico earned 33 Latin Grammy nominations, including all the nominations for best urban music album and best salsa album.

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On the Net:

The Latin Recording Academy: http://www.grammy.com/Latin/