Grammy nominees for the Recording Academy's 1999 awards presentation were announced Tuesday, offering a glimpe into the popular sentiment within the community of academy members. In a number of key instances, that sentiment amounted to a bow to the momentum of female artists as Lauryn Hill, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow, Madonna, Brandy and Celine Dion were each represented with multiple nominations.

The annual awards ceremony honors recordings released during the Grammy eligibility period -- from October 1, 1997 from September 30, 1998 for the 1999 awards. As a result, recent releases by artists including Jewel and Alanis Morissette, who released their heavily-anticipated sophomore US efforts late in the year, will not be eligible until 2000.

Lauryn Hill, a member of the Fugees who's first solo album sold extremely well and was greeted warmly by critics, was nominated in 10 categories, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist, topping the list of most-honored artists. In a brief statement issued through her label, Columbia Records, Hill said, ''I'd like to thank everyone who supported this album. I think it is a strong statement, in these days, that I can make an album completely from my soul and without compromise and be acknowledged for it. Praise God.''

The strong showing of Shania Twain -- who along with fellow Canadian Celine Dion had one of the top-selling albums of 1998 -- owed much to the smash success of her pop-crossover single You're Still The One, which was named in four of her six nominations. Similarly, the academy noted country artist LeAnn Rimes' crossover success in 1997 with a nomination at last year's ceremony and this year, the crossover success of Faith Hill's This Kiss helped raise the profile of her activity, resulting in three nominations for Hill and a Best Song nod for the song.

Sheryl Crow matched Twain with six nominations and Madonna pulled in five nominations. Celine Dion and Brandy each received four nominations.

Twain, Crow, Madonna, Hill and Garbage made up the full list of nominees in the Album of the Year category, providing a full slate of female-fronted acts.

Almost all of the female artists topping the nominations are, or will be, touring in 1999. Twain, who just finished a lengthy US tour, plans to do a second US run, possibly in the summer. Hill kicks of a US tour February 18th in Detroit. Madonna, absent from the road for nearly six years, will launch a tour in September. Dion, who wrapped up a US tour in November, will return in March for a second run. Crow will launch a world tour in February. Garbage will open on a portion of Alanis Morissette's tour, which will launch January 30th in New Orleans.

A full list of nominees is available at www.grammy.com.