If the nominations are anything to go by, it’ll be a night for the ladies come Sunday, 18 November, when The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards (AMAs) hit Los Angeles’ famous NOKIA Theatre.

As Christina Aguilera revealed when announcing the 2012 AMA nominations, the first ladies of pop controversy Nicki Minaj and Rihanna led the pack, both seeing four individual nominations.

Following Minaj and Rihanna are Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher, each with three nominations. Double nominations go to Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, fun., Gotye, J.Cole, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan and Pitbull. Rihanna joins Justin Bieber, Drake, Maroon 5 and Katy Perry in this year’s Artist of the Year nominees. And at last, in a nod to the direction industry heavyweights have long been taking, the AMAs offer a new category this year in Electronic Dance Music. The nominees include David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Skrillex.

It was also announced that Christina Aguilera, with her new album Lotus, would be performing at the awards. Xtina hinted at her performance to MTV, "It's very exciting. It's definitely going to be a reflection of what Lotus means to me. If you take that album cover and give it a little performance twist, I'll bring that album cover to life, so it's going to be really fun."

Sounds like a steamy AMA ceremony for 2012, stay tuned for further performance announcements.



2012 American Music Awards 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

Favourite Male Artist – Pop/Rock
Justin Bieber
Flo Rida
Pitbull
Usher

Favourite Female Artist – Pop/Rock
Kelly Clarkson
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry
Rihanna

Favourite Band, Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
fun.
Maroon 5
One Direction
The Wanted

Favourite Album – Pop/Rock
Justin Bieber /Believe
Maroon 5/Overexposed
Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
One Direction/Up All Night

Favourite Male Artist – Country
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church

Favourite Female Artist – Country
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Favourite Band, Duo or Group - Country
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
 
Favourite Album - Country
Luke Bryan/Tailgates & Tanlines
Lionel Richie/Tuskegee
Carrie Underwood/Blown Away

Favourite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop
Drake
Nicki Minaj
Tyga
 
Favourite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop
J. Cole/Cole World: The Sideline Story
Drake/Take Care
Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Favourite Male Artist – Soul/R'n'B
Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Usher

Favourite Female Artist – Soul/R'n'B
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna

Favourite Album – Soul/R'n'B
Chris Brown/Fortune
Rihanna/Talk That Talk
Usher/Looking 4 Myself

Favourite Artist - Alternative Rock
The Black Keys
Gotye
Linkin Park

Favourite Artist - Adult Contemporary
Adele
Kelly Clarkson
Train

Favourite Artist - Latin
Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira

Favourite Artist - Contemporary Inspirational
Jeremy Camp
Newsboys
tobyMac

Favourite Artist - Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Skrillex