Los Angeles, Sept 17: Veteran performers, including Fleetwood Mac, Celine Dion and Cher, mixed with youngsters Beyonce and Avril Lavigne on the list of nominees for the 31st Annual American Music Awards. Dion received two nominations yesterday, for favourite female pop-rock artist and favourite adult contemporary artist, where she's up against Cher and Norah Jones. Jones, whose folksy, sensuous voice earned her five Grammys earlier this year, is also vying for favourite pop-rock album for her platinum debut "come away with me."
No clear favourites emerged yesterday, with two nominations each going to R Kelly, Luther Vandross, Ashanti and Beyonce in the Soul-R&B category, Shania Twain in the country category and Sean Paul and Missy Elliott in the rap-hip hop category.
Rapper Eminem also received two nods for favourite male rapper and for the soundtrack to his semi-autobiographical film "8 mile." The 20 awards will be presented during a ceremony at the shrine auditorium in Los Angeles on Nov 16. Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is the emcee.
The nominations are based on sales figures and radio play. Winners are selected by a survey of about 20,000 listeners.
Bureau Report