Ciara Leads Lady of Soul Nominees

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Ciara (search) is pulling double duty as co-host and leading nominee at next month's Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. (search)

Longtime Soul Train host Don Cornelius announced Tuesday that the teen 'crunk & B' singer, whose "Goodies" album went double-platinum with a set of bass-heavy dance songs, is hosting the 10th annual awards show with singers Brian McKnight and Toni Braxton.

Aretha Franklin (search) will be honored at the ceremony and is joining longtime friend Stevie Wonder (search) for a duet performance. The soul diva will also present the Aretha Franklin Award for entertainer of the year to Amerie, who has four nominations and one of the season's catchier singles in "1 Thing."

"American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino and Destiny's Child also took four nominations each, Cornelius and recent host Dorian Gregory announced at Spago restaurant.

Ciara had a leading five nominations, for best new artist, solo album, dance cut and music video for "1, 2 Step," and song of the year for "Goodies," which features rapper Petey Pablo. The sultry Atlanta singer also collaborated with Missy Elliott on "Lose Control," an electro-funk and crunk-infused track contending in the dance cut and music video categories.

In song of the year category, Ciara competes against Amerie's "1 Thing," Fantasia's "Truth Is" and "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys.

The awards show will be held Sept. 7 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and will be syndicated for broadcast later that month; it's expected to air on the WB in the Los Angeles area. Nominees and winners are decided by a group of 1,600 voters that include artists, retailers and representatives in the radio industry.