Jimmy Kimmel to Host 32nd Annual "American Music Awards"
Airing November 14th 8/7c on ABC



For the second year in a row, late-night talk show host, writer, producer and sports prognosticator Jimmy Kimmel will host the 32nd Annual "American Music Awards," which will air live Sunday November 14, 8:00-11:00 p.m. ET, on the ABC. This special is a presentation of Dick Clark Productions with Clark serving as executive producer, and will broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

This marks the second consecutive year that Kimmel will serve as host for the gala music awards special. He is also the host and executive producer of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," which features a diverse lineup of guests that includes celebrities, athletes, comedians, musical acts, human interest subjects and dangerously crazy people, along with comedy bits and a house band.

Dick Clark noted: "We're excited to have Jimmy back again as our host. He showed last year that his unpredictability and ability to react to situations around him allows him to bring a unique sense of humor to the stage and to keep the show moving at a fast pace."
Joked Kimmel: "It is an honor to be nominated and I promise that my duet with Christina Aguilera will be a performance that will not be soon forgotten."

A total of 19 publicly voted awards will be presented on this year's "American Music Awards." Nominations for the "American Music Awards" are in eight categories -- Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues, Rap/Hip-Hop, Adult Contemporary, Latin Music, Contemporary Inspirational and Alternative Music.
The complete list of nominees, many of whom will attend the ceremonies either as presenters or as performers, follows:

Pop/Rock
Favorite Male Artist: Josh Groban, Lenny Kravitz, Michael McDonald, Usher
Favorite Female Artist: Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne, Jessica Simpson
Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Evanescence, Nickelback, OutKast
Favorite Album: "Feels Like Home" (Norah Jones), "In This Skin" (Jessica Simpson), "Confessions" (Usher)

Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Favorite Male Artist: R. Kelly, Prince, Ruben Studdard, Usher
Favorite Female Artist: Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys
Favorite Album: "The Diary of Alicia Keys" (Alicia Keys), "Musicology" (Prince), "Confessions" (Usher)

Country
Favorite Male Artist: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw
Favorite Female Artist: Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Gretchen Wilson
Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Brooks & Dunn, Lonestar, Rascal Flatts
Favorite Album: "When The Sun Goes Down" (Kenny Chesney), "Shock'n Y'All" (Toby Keith) "Martina" (Martina McBride)

Rap/Hip-Hop
Favorite Male Artist: Jay-Z, Juvenile, Lil' Flip, Kanye West
Favorite Band, Duo or Group: G-Unit, OutKast, Ying Yang Twins
Favorite Album: "The Black Album" (Jay-Z), "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" (OutKast), "The College Dropout" (Kanye West)

Adult Contemporary
Favorite Artist: Harry Connick, Jr., Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones

Latin Music
Favorite Artist: Marc Anthony, Intocable, Paulina Rubio

Alternative Music
Favorite Artist: Incubus, Jet, Linkin Park

Contemporary Inspirational
Favorite Artist: Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Third Day

Breakthrough
Favorite New Artist (All Genres): Maroon 5, Kanye West, Gretchen Wilson

Performers
Some of the hottest artists in the music business will be performing. Special guests performers are are Usher and Ms. Keys. Other performers include Kenny Chesney with Uncle Kracker, Josh Groban, Toby Keith, Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Jessica Simpson, Snoop Dogg & Pharrell, Gwen Stefani, Twista, Kanye West and Gretchen Wilson.

Presenters
Presenters are Kelly Osbourne, Clay Aiken, Pamela Anderson, Jim Belushi, Brooks & Dunn, Chingy, Ciara, Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, Carmen Electra, Macy Gray, Kathy Griffin, Billy Idol, William Shatner, Lil' Flip, Teena Marie, MercyMe, Nelly, Nicole Richie, Nicolette Sheridan, KISS' Gene Simmons, John Stamos, Switchfoot, tennis superstars Serena & Venus Williams and Ying Yang Twins.

Winner of "American Music Awards" Award of Merit
Bon Jovi
The "Award of Merit" is presented to a member of the musical community in recognition of "outstanding contributions to the musical entertainment of the American public." The inscription on the trophy will read: "For being the embodiment of rock music for the last 20 years, for inspiring countless musicians to follow in their footsteps and for elevating all of us with their musicianship and artistry...this year's 'Award of Merit' presented to Bon Jovi, November 14, 2004."
In the pantheon of the world's greatest rock bands, Bon Jovi's accomplishments over the past 20 years place them among the elite in their genre. Hard-working musicians and prolific songwriters, Bon Jovi's music has won them a loyal global audience. Since 1984, sales of Bon Jovi albums (plus Jon Bon Jovi solo records) have racked up total sales topping the 100 million milestone, and they have performed more than 2500 concerts in 50 countries before more than 32 million fans. Bon Jovi are the people's band everywhere. As the title of their groundbreaking "think outside the box" set (to be released on Island Records November 16) proudly states, 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong.

Added Info 11/7/04:
Rock icon Rod Stewart, who currently has the No. 1 album in the country, has been added to the list of performers.

Newly added presenters for the special are Matthew Fox, Lance Armstrong, Ashanti, Eva Longoria, Big Boi, Kenny G, JoJo, Nick Lachey, Chester Bennington, Tony Perkins, Michael McDonald, Brian McKnight, Mandy Moore and Anna Nicole Smith.

Photos provided by electricartists.com