The 40th anniversary of the American Music Awards will be celebrated in true style this year – that if the list of nominees for this year is anything to go by.  Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the pack with four nominations each. Other big nominees include Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Katy Perry.

Already confirmed to perform at the awards is Ms. Christina Aguilera, who no doubt will be bumping off a few guys… if her latest video, Your Body is anything to go by 😉 More performers will be added to the list in the build up to the awards on the 18th of November.

Check out the list of nominees below:

 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

 

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