HALESTORM was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which are being held tonight (Sunday, February 10) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. HALESTORM was nominated for the track "Love Bites (So Do I)" , from the band's 2012 album "The Strange Case Of…"

In his acceptance speech, HALESTORM drummer Arejay Hale said: "I've gotta thank my parents — our parents — for turning us on to great music. Most parents want their kids to be doctors and lawyers, and our parents encouraged us to join the circus. So thank you, guys."

Added HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale: "Thank you to our fellow nominees. If it wasn't for your inspiration…. IRON MAIDEN, for heaven's sake… LAMB OF GOD… We would not have written this song and been in this category."

In the Grammy press room, Lzzy added, "[This] wouldn't have been possible without these people, specifically, LAMB OF GOD. We were inspired by the guitar part … and we wouldn't have gotten into hard rock if it wasn't for MEGADETH and IRON MAIDEN, so it's just amazing.”

Speaking about the camaraderie in the genre, Lzzy explained, "It's an incredible genre to be a part of because rock isn't always the most popular genre. Sometimes we're underground, but we all work really hard on the road. We all look out for one another."

Lzzy told The Pulse Of Radio that the band was in its natural state — playing live onstage — when they got the news of their Grammy nomination in early December. "It was just in time for the piano ballad, so I'm just kind of sitting by myself and Joe [Hottinger, guitar] runs across the stage, he's like, 'We got nominated for a Grammy!'" she said. "And I'm like, I mean, I must have had at least 30 seconds of just pure, like, shock on my face. [laughs] 'Really? Are you serious?' I still can't wipe this stupid grin off my face, I'll tell you that. But it was a very cool moment for all of us."

"Love Bites" hit No. 1, making HALESTORM the first female-fronted act in history to top the Active Rock chart.

The nominees in this year's "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category were as follows:

ANTHRAX - "I'm Alive"
Track from: "Worship Music"
(Megaforce)

HALESTORM - "Love Bites (So Do I)"
Track from: "The Strange Case Of..."
(Atlantic)

IRON MAIDEN - "Blood Brothers"
Track from: "En Vivo!"
(Ume)

LAMB OF GOD - "Ghost Walking"
Track from: "Resolution"
(Epic)

MARILYN MANSON – "No Reflection"
Track from: "Born Villain"
(Cooking Vinyl)

MEGADETH - "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)"
Track from: "TH1RT3EN"
(Roadrunner)

Nominations for the 55th annual Grammy Awards were announced on December 5, 2012 by The Recording Academy and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest in music over the past year, as determined by the voting members of The Academy. For the fifth year, nominations for the annual Grammy Awards were announced on primetime television as part of "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night", a one-hour CBS entertainment special broadcast live for the first time ever at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

This year's Grammy Awards process registered more than 17,000 submissions over a 12-month eligibility period, October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012. Grammy ballots for the final round of voting were mailed on December 19 to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They were due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by January 16, when they were tabulated and the results kept secret until the 55th Grammy broadcast.

The 55th annual Grammy Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer and Louis J. Horvitz is director.