The night's leading nominees include a mix of musical newcomers and veterans, including Bruce Springsteen, Norah Jones, Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Ashanti, Sheryl Crow, and Raphael Saadiq, all of whom scored five nods apiece. Country favorites the Dixie Chicks and Alan Jackson are both up for four awards; while Britney Spears and Pink will vie for two each.
The coveted album of the year category pits the Chicks' Home, Eminem's The Eminem Show, Jones's Come Away With Me, Nelly's Nellyville, and Springsteen's The Rising against each other.
Up for song of the year are Lavigne's "Complicated," Jones's "Don't Know Why," Springsteen's "The Rising," Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles," and Jackson's "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)."
One of the night's most exciting categories, best new artist, includes Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Jones, Lavigne, and John Mayer.
Artists set to present at the awards show include Branch, Saadiq, Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock, Alicia Keys, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Pat Monahan of Train, Cyndi Lauper, Mary J. Blige, Martina McBride, Rod Stewart, and Justin Timberlake.
Those scheduled to perform are Faith Hill, Ashanti, Carlton, Coldplay with members of the New York Philharmonic, Elvis Costello, Crow with Lenny Kravitz, the Dixie Chicks, Eminem, Jones, Lavigne, Mayer, Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland, No Doubt, *NSYNC, Springsteen, and James Taylor.
Personalities hosting the show include Marc Anthony, Queen Latifah, and actors Robin Williams and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
The awards show is returning to New York City after a five-year absence.
-- Wendy Hermanson, Los Angeles
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