Mariah, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Eyed Peas, Nickelback Lead American Music Award Nods

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – For more than a dozen artists, nominations for the American Music Awards came in twos and threes.

Mariah Carey, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas and Nickelback each captured three nominations, while Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, T.I., Rascal Flatts, Pussycat Dolls and former American Idols Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood earned a pair of nods each.

Nominees in pop/rock, country, soul/rhythm & blues, rap/hip-hop, Latin, alternative, contemporary inspirational and adult contemporary categories were announced at a news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

This year, the favorite female rap/hip-hop artist category was eliminated because fewer than five artists met the minimum eligibility requirements.

The 2006 American Music Awards will be presented Nov. 21 at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium during a three-hour ABC-TV special.

Nominees were chosen based on record sales. Winners will be selected by a survey of about 20,000 listeners.

The complete list of nominees:

Pop/Rock:

• Male artist: Nick Lachey, Sean Paul, Kanye West

• Female artist: Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly Furtado

• Band, duo or group: Nickelback, Pussycat Dolls, Red Hot Chili Peppers

• Album: "All the Right Reasons" (Nickelback), "Stadium Arcadium" (Red Hot Chili Peppers), "High School Musical" (various artists)

Country:

• Male artist: Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Keith Urban

• Female artist: Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson

• Band, duo or group: Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts

• Album: "Legend of Johnny Cash" (Johnny Cash), "Greatest Hits Volume 2" ( Tim McGraw), "Me And My Gang" (Rascal Flatts)

Soul/Rhythm & Blues:

• Male artist: Chris Brown, Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo

• Female artist: Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole

• Band, duo or group: The Black Eyed Peas, The Isley Brothers, Jagged Edge

• Album: "The Breakthrough" (Mary J. Blige), "The Emancipation of Mimi" (Mariah Carey), "Unpredictable" (Jamie Foxx)

Rap/Hip Hop:

• Male artist: Eminem, T.I., Kanye West

• Band, duo or group: The Black Eyed Peas, Dem Franchize Boyz, Three 6 Mafia

• Album: "Monkey Business" (The Black Eyed Peas), "Curtain Call" (Eminem), "King" (T.I.)

Adult Contemporary:

• Artist: Michael Buble, Kelly Clarkson, Rob Thomas

Alternative:

• Artist: Nickelback, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Latin:

• Artist: Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Shakira

Contemporary Inspirational:

• Artist: Aly & AJ, Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin

Breakthrough:

• New artist: Chamillionaire, Pussycat Dolls, Carrie Underwood