Star-Studded 40th Anniversary American Music Awards Air Sunday on ABC

Facebook.com/AMAsMusic's biggest names will gather this Sunday night in L.A. to celebrate the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards, airing live from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

The evening will include a tribute by Stevie Wonder and Ryan Seacrest to the late Dick Clark, who created the AMAs four decades ago, as well as performances by more than a dozen stars.  Among them: Kelly Clarkson, Pink, No Doubt, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, Usher, The Wanted, PSY, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, Carrie Underwood, Ke$ha, Linkin Park, Chris Brown and Ludacris. Presenters include Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, will.i.am, Ne-Yo, Paula Abdul, Neon Trees, Phillip Phillips, Karmin, Backstreet Boys and Brandy.

Rihanna and Nicki Minaj are the leading nominees for the AMAs: each have four nominations individually. Following with three nods each are Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Drake, One Direction and Usher.  The nominees for the most prestigious category -- Artist of the Year -- are Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Maroon 5 and Drake.

Maroon 5 won their first AMA last year, and guitarist James Valentine tells ABC News Radio that AMAs mean more than some other honors, because it's the fans who determine the winners.

"I mean, any sort of recognition is great for us but, yeah, because the fans are voting, it does feel a little bit more special. You appreciate the love from the fans," James says.  He also says it's surreal to be part of something that he grew up watching on TV as a kid.

"It's funny -- that's the whole world that I was watching, you know, from Lincoln, Nebraska, and never really actually thinking that I'd be a part of [it]," he says.  "So, it's cool to see that stuff up close."  Unfortunately, Maroon 5 won't be in the house, since they're performing on Saturday Night Live the night before, but they'll be watching from New York City.  "I always watch it," says James.  "We will be tuned in, watching attentively!"

Andy Grammer will also be on hand Sunday night: he's serving as the official red carpet correspondent for the live online pre-show.  In addition to interviewing the acts on the carpet, Andy will also perform live, and you can watch the whole thing starting at 5 p.m. ET on YouTube, ABC.com, Cokemusic.com, Livestream, Ustream and AMAs365. 

Andy tells ABC News Radio, "I'm very excited to be around an event that is so critical to the music community where all the big heavyweights come out -- just to be around that energy is real exciting."  

Here are the AMA nominees:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
Drake
Maroon 5
Katy Perry
Rihanna

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
J. Cole
fun.
Gotye
Carly Rae Jepsen
One Direction

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber
Flo Rida
Pitbull
Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Kelly Clarkson
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry
Rihanna
 
FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
fun.
Maroon 5
One Direction
The Wanted

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber /Believe
Maroon 5/Overexposed
Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
One Direction/Up All Night

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE BAND, DUO or GROUP - COUNTRY               
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts

FAVORITE ALBUM - COUNTRY
Luke Bryan/tailgates & tanlines
Lionel Richie/Tuskegee
Carrie Underwood/Blown Away

FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Drake
Nicki Minaj
Tyga

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
J. Cole/Cole World: The Sideline Story
Drake/Take Care
Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown/Fortune
Rihanna/Talk That Talk
Usher/Looking 4 Myself

FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE ROCK
The Black Keys
Gotye
Linkin Park

FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Adele
Kelly Clarkson
Train

FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN
Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira

FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Jeremy Camp
Newsboys
tobyMac                

FAVORITE ARTIST - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Skrillex

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