Peppers, Peas, Mariah Spice Up AMAs

Tue., Sep. 19, 2006 11:25 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

If the folks behind the American Music Awards are trying to reverse the perception of being the most predictable award show out there, well, they aren't doing themselves any favors with this year's list of nominees.

For the second consecutive year, despite having failed to release an album in nearly 18 months, Mariah Carey leads the nominations at the Dick Clark-produced trophyfest. Carey, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Eyed Peas and Nickelback each snagged a field-best three nods for the 2006 American Music Awards.

For her part, The Emancipation of Mimi songbird is once again up for Favorite Female Artist in both the Pop/Rock and Soul/Rhythm & Blues categories, as well as a nod for Favorite Album in the
latter category.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who also led the nominations for last month's MTV Video Music Awards, are competing for Favorite Artist in the Alternative Music category, and Favorite Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Album for their chart-topping Stadium Arcadium in the Pop/Rock field. Their primary challenger in all three races seems to be Nickelback.

As for Fergie and her fellow Peas, their Monkey Business is up for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album, and the group will vie for Favorite Artist in both Rap/Hip-Hop and Soul/Rhythm & Blues.

Also racking up multiple nominations were virtually any artists who managed to score some airplay this year: Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Eminem, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Rascal Flatts, T.I., Carrie Underwood and Pussycats Dolls all scored two nods apiece. Underwood and Pussycat Dolls will do battle with Chamillionaire in the redundantly named Favorite New Breakthrough Artist race.

Other nominations of note include Disney's hugely popular High School Musical soundtrack competing against the Chili Peppers and Nickelback for Favorite Pop/Rock Album, and Johnny Cash earning a posthumous nod, as his The Legend of Johnny Cash faces off against Tim McGraw's Greatest Hits Volume 2 and Rascal Flatts' Me & My Gang for Favorite Country Album.

Winners will be selected by a nationwide poll, and the awards will be doled out live at the Shrine Auditorium Nov. 21 on ABC.

Here's a complete list of nominees:

POP/ROCK

Favorite Male Artist: Nick Lachey, Sean Paul, Kanye West
Favorite Female Artist: Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly Furtado
Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Nickelback, Pussycat Dolls, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Favorite Album: All the Right Reasons, Nickelback; Stadium Arcadium, Red Hot Chili Peppers; High School Musical, various artists

COUNTRY

Favorite Male Artist: Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Keith Urban
Favorite Female Artist: Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson
Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts
Favorite Album: Legend of Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash; Greatest Hits Volume 2, Tim McGraw; Me & My Gang, Rascal Flatts

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES

Favorite Male Artist: Chris Brown, Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo
Favorite Female Artist: Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole
Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Black Eyed Peas, The Isley Brothers, Jagged Edge
Favorite Album: The Breakthrough, Mary J. Blige; The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey; Unpredictable, Jamie Foxx

RAP/HIP-HOP

Favorite Male Artist: Eminem, T.I., Kanye West
Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Black Eyed Peas, Dem Franchize Boyz, Three 6 Mafia
Favorite Album: Monkey Business, Black Eyed Peas; Curtain Call, Eminem; King, T.I.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Favorite Artist: Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Rob Thomas

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Nickelback, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers

LATIN MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Shakira

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Favorite Artist: Aly & AJ, Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin

BREAKTHROUGH (ALL GENRES):

Favorite Artist: Chamillionaire, Pussycat Dolls, Carrie Underwood