Rapper Kanye West and soul crooner John Legend also received eight nominations each to lead the field of artists vying for awards at the 48th annual Grammys.
Rappers 50 Cent and Will.i.am, pop diva Beyonce Knowles, hip hop band the Black Eyed Peas and pop legend Stevie Wonder netted six nominations each.
Five nominations went to rapper Missy Elliott, soul singer Alicia Keys, rock legend Bruce Springsteen, rocker Gwen Stefani and Irish stars U2.
Common, Destiny's Child, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, The Neptunes, Brad Paisley, Phil Tan and Gretchen Wilson gained four nominations. Carey's eight nominations add to a comeback year for the 35-year-old artist, whose career was resurrected by her chart-topping album "The Emancipation of Mimi."
"This is incredible," she told CBS television after the Grammy announcements. "I feel blessed ... It's been a great year."