Lionel Richie Up For Best Country Album at American Music Awards

It's the 40th anniversary of the American Music Awards, a show started by Dick Clark as an alternative to the Grammys in 1973. The difference between the two awards is that the Grammys are voted on by industry members where the AMA's are voted by the people.

As always, the AMA's salute the biggest selling artists in a variety of genres and, usually, the fans pick the flavor of the moment at the time of voting. That's why it is very rare for a veteran artist to make the cut.

This year, Lionel Richie, actually made the cut, in the country category, for his smash album Tuskeegee.

Overall, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the nominations with four each while Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher have three each and Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, fun., Gotye, J.Cole, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan and Pitbull each have two.

The awards will be given out on November 18 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and broadcast on ABC.

The 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

• Believe - Justin Bieber
• Overexposed - Maroon 5
• Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - Nicki Minaj
• Up All Night - One Direction

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

• Tailgates & Tanlines - Luke Bryan
• Tuskegee - Lionel Richie
• Blown Away - Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP

• Drake
• Nicki Minaj
• Tyga

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP

• Cole World: The Sideline Story - J. Cole
• Take Care - Drake
• Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - Nicki Minaj

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

• Fortune - Chris Brown
• Talk That Talk - Rihanna
• Looking 4 Myself - Usher

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