Usher, Kanye Lead AMAs
Usher received the most American Music Award nominations today, with a total of four nods: for favorite male artist and album in the pop/rock category, and for favorite artist and album in the soul/R&B category.
Rapper Kanye West came in second with three nominations for his solo debut, The College Dropout. West is up for favorite male rap/hip-hop artist, favorite rap/hip-hop album and best new artist.
OutKast, whose Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won album of the year at the Grammys, is pitted against West for favorite rap/hip-hop album. Usher has stiff competition as well — for both favorite soul/R&B album and artist — from this year’s unlikely comeback kid, Prince and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.
The AMAs are based on sales figures and decided by a survey of some 20,000 listeners. The show, hosted by late-night’s Jimmy Kimmel, will air live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on ABC on November 14th.
The complete list of 2004 American Music Awards nominees:
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
Josh Groban
Lenny Kravitz
Michael McDonald
Usher
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
Sheryl Crow
Avril Lavigne
Jessica Simpson
Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group
Evanescence
Nickelback
OutKast
Favorite Pop/Rock Album
Feels Like Home, Norah Jones
In This Skin, Jessica Simpson
Confessions, Usher
Favorite Soul/Rhythm & Blues Male Artist
R. Kelly
Prince
Ruben Studdard
Usher
Favorite Soul/Rhythm & Blues Female Artist
Beyonce
Janet Jackson
Alicia Keys
Favorite Soul/Rhythm & Blues Album
The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys
Musicology, Prince
Confessions, Usher
Favorite Country Male Artist
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Favorite Country Female Artist
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Gretchen Wilson
Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group
Lonestar
Brooks and Dunn
Rascal Flatts
Favorite Country Album
When The Sun Goes Down, Kenny Chesney
Shock’n Y’All, Toby Keith
Martina, Martina McBride
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist
Jay-Z
Juvenile
Lil’ Flip
Kanye West
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band, Duo or Group
G-Unit
OutKast
Ying Yang Twins
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
The Black Album, Jay-Z
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, OutKast
The College Dropout, Kanye West
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist
Harry Connick, Jr.
Sheryl Crow
Norah Jones
Favorite Latin Music Artist
Marc Anthony
Intocable
Paulina Rubio
Favorite Alternative Music Artist
Incubus
Jet
Linkin Park
Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
Steven Curtis Chapman
MercyMe
Third Day
Favorite New Artist
Maroon 5
Kanye West
Gretchen Wilson