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'Emilia Perez,' 'The Brutalist' lead nominees

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Globes launch Hollywood's awards season

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Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez among nominees

(Updates with stars arriving on red carpet paragraphs 1-4)

By Lisa Richwine

BEVERLY HILLS, California, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Ariana

Grande, Adrien Brody, Angelina Jolie and other Hollywood stars

stepped out in their red-carpet best at the Golden Globes on

Sunday, the first major awards ceremony in a year without a

clear frontrunner for the top movie accolades.

"Wicked" star Grande arrived in a yellow vintage Givenchy

gown with a beaded bodice that she said was a tribute to the

yellow brick road leading to Oz in the movie musical.

"It's so exciting to be here because I'm such a fan of every

single person I bump into," Grande said of the star-studded

crowd in Beverly Hills. "To be here is just the most unexpected

delightful surprise of my life."

Also on the carpet, "The Brutalist" star and nominee Brody

sported a large bejeweled brooch on his dark tuxedo. His

co-star, Felicity Jones, shined in a sparkly silver sleeveless

gown.

Netflix's ( NFLX ) Spanish-language musical thriller "Emilia

Perez" and "The Brutalist," a 3-1/2 hour post-World War II drama

that includes an intermission, lead the movies competing for

Globe trophies.

Others include box office smash "Wicked," adapted from the

Broadway play about the witches in "The Wizard of Oz," and papal

selection story "Conclave."

Restaurant tale "The Bear" and mystery comedy "Only Murders

in the Building" will compete for TV honors.

The Globes will air live on CBS and the Paramount+

streaming service starting at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday (1 a.m.

GMT). Stand-up comedian Nikki Glaser hosts the champagne-fueled

festivities for the first time.

Glaser, who hosted a roast of football legend Tom Brady last

year, said she plans to celebrate the A-list nominees rather

than poke fun at them as some previous hosts have.

"I want people who were nominated to feel proud of

themselves. I don't want them to feel under attack," Glaser said

in an interview.

The presenter lineup features big-name celebrities including

Dwayne Johnson, Elton John, Andrew Garfield and Awkwafina.

Winning a Globe can shine a spotlight on movies and

performances in the run-up to the Academy Awards in March. So

far, awards pundits say, there is no clear favorite for the

coveted best picture prize at the Oscars.

Unlike the Oscars, the Globes separate films into two

categories. "Conclave" and "The Brutalist" are considered strong

entries in best film drama, while "Wicked" and "Emilia Perez"

are the leading contenders for best movie musical or comedy.

Globe honorees are chosen by 334 entertainment journalists

from 85 countries, compared with roughly 9,000 voters who select

the Academy Awards. The Globes voting body has been expanded in

recent years and organizers instituted reforms after being

criticized for ethical lapses and a lack of diversity.

Timothee Chalamet is in contention for best film drama actor

for playing musician Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown." His

competition includes Brody, who portrays a Holocaust survivor

and architect chasing the American dream in "The Brutalist."

Selena Gomez is a double nominee for her supporting role in

"Emilia Perez," the story of a Mexican drug lord who transitions

to a woman, and for lead comedy actress as a podcaster on TV

series "Only Murders in the Building."

Other acting nominees include Angelina Jolie for her

portrayal of opera star Maria Callas in "Maria," Nicole Kidman

as a corporate executive having an affair with an intern in

"Babygirl," Zendaya as a tennis coach in "Challengers" and

Ariana Grande as a student of sorcery in "Wicked."

Among the men, Daniel Craig is nominated for "Queer" and

Denzel Washington for "Gladiator II."