2009 American Music Awards: Nominations List

The 2009 American Music Awards were announced back on October 13 by Adam Lambert, Paula Abdul, and Snoop Dogg in Beverly Hills. The winners will be presented their awards Sunday night, November 22. For those who missed the original nominations announcements, it should be pointed out that Taylor Swift, off a four-trophy haul at the Country Music Association Awards just a few days ago, is nominated for the most awards -- 6. Michael Jackson is nominated for 5. Both are nominated for Artist of the Year, so it should make for an interesting night.

This year's American Music Awards (AMAs) will be its 36th incarnation. The AMAs were created back in 1973 by rock 'n roll legend Dick Clark to compete with the Grammys. It began as an alternative to the Grammy Awards due to the Grammys moving from the ABC network to CBS. Dick Clark, who continues to work primarily with ABC to this day, created the AMAs as a true people's awards show, as opposed to an industry awards show (the Grammy Awards are voted on by artists and music industry members).

This year's votes were tabulated from ballots collected at amavote.com from October 16 to November 13.

Besides the red hot Taylor Swift, who keeps racking up awards and selling albums and tickets far in excess of her colleagues, and the incomparable Michael Jackson, others with multiple awards include Eminem (4), Lady Gaga (3, but 4 if one counts the Breakthrough Artist), Kings of Leon (3), Black Eyed Peas (3), Beyonce (3), and T.I. (3).

Among the myriad presenters at the 2009 AMAs (via are: Colbie Caillat, Demi Lovato, Donny Osmond, Drake, Jason Aldean, Jeremiah, Joe Perry, Kate Hudson, Kelly Osbourne, Kid Cudi, Kris Allen, Kristen Bell, Leona Lewis, Melissa Etheridge, Mya, Ne-Yo, Nicole Kidman, Orianthi, Paula Abdul, Perez Hilton, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Ryan Seacrest, Samuel L. Jackson, Selena Gomez, Seth Green, Sofia Vergara, Snoop Dogg, Toni Braxton and Zac Brown Band, among others.

Performers include: 50 Cent, Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, The Black Eyed Peas, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Eminem, Green Day, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Mary J Blige, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna, Soshy, Timbaland, Shakira, Whitney Houston and a few surprise performances. Promoters are pushing the "return" of Rihanna and the "eight minutes of Janet Jackson kicking off" performance, not to mention the "comeback story of the year," Whitney Houston. But the Adam Lambert contingent will definitely be out in force, especially with the American Idol rocker dropping his debut album the very next day.

The 2009 American Music Awards looks to be a music-packed show and, if previous shows are any indication, will have a few surprises as well. Hopefully, if Taylor Swift wins anything, Kanye West will remain seated...

2009 American Music Awards Nominations

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon
Taylor Swift
Lady Gaga
Eminem
Michael Jackson

POP/ROCK - Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Michael Jackson
T.I.

POP/ROCK - Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

POP/ROCK - Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Kings of Leon
Nickelback

POP/ROCK - Favorite Album
The Fame - Lady Gaga
Number Ones - Michael Jackson
Fearless - Taylor Swift

COUNTRY - Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band

COUNTRY - Favorite Album
Unstoppable - Rascal Flatts
Fearless - Taylor Swift
Foundation - Zac Brown Band

RAP/HIP-HOP - Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Jay-Z
T.I.

RAP/HIP-HOP - Favorite Album
Relapse - Eminem
Blueprint 3 - Jay-Z
Paper Trail - T.I.

COUNTRY - Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band

COUNTRY - Favorite Album
Unstoppable - Rascal Flatts
Fearless - Taylor Swift
Foundation - Zac Brown Band

RAP/HIP-HOP - Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Jay-Z
T.I.

RAP/HIP-HOP - Favorite Album
Relapse - Eminem
Blueprint 3 - Jay-Z
Paper Trail - T.I.

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Male Artist
Jamie Foxx
Michael Jackson
Maxwell

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Keyshia Cole
Keri Hilson

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Day26
Mary Mary

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Album
I Am...Sasha Fierce - Beyonce
The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed Peas
Number Ones - Michael Jackson

SOUNDTRACKS - Favorite Album
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hannah Montana 3
Twilight Soundtrack

ALTERNATIVE ROCK - Favorite Artist
Green Day
Kings of Leon
Shinedown

ADULT CONTEMPORARY - Favorite Artist
Daughtry
Jason Mraz
Taylor Swift

LATIN - Favorite Artist
Aventura
Luis Fonsi
Wisin Y Yandel

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL - Favorite Artist
Jeremy Camp
Brandon Heath
Mary Mary

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Source:

"2009 American Music Awards," ABC.go.com