American Music Awards Will Name 2016’s Fan Favorites

Aryeh Harris-Shapiro

The American Music Awards, the world’s biggest fan-voted awards show, will celebrate some of the biggest recording artists of 2016 this month. The ceremony airs live on ABC and features performances from some of the most exciting names in music. But the real fun is watching the announcements of winners, including the big trophy in a highly competitive Best Artist race.

Drake leads the Best Artist pack in terms of overall nominations, racking up 13 and breaking a record set by “Thriller”-era Michael Jackson. Drake has been omnipresent this year following his last album “Views.” In addition to his nominations for his solo work, including his hit song “One Dance,” he’s also been nominated for his collaborations with Rihanna and Future.

Rihanna also put in a strong showing with seven nominations while Adele and Justin Bieber tied for third with five apiece. Adele has won 10 Grammys and an Oscar, but she’s never taken the top category at the AMA and may be looking to check that off her list. Also nominated are Beyoncé, whose landmark project “Lemonade” and accompanying tour landed her four nominations, The Chainsmokers, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Carrie Underwood, Selena Gomez, and Twenty One Pilots. The odds may favor Drake, but a surprise upset may not be out of the question.

Between awards, the AMAs stage performances that may not be quite as stunning as what’s seen on the VMAs or Grammys, but they’re noteworthy nonetheless. Last year’s awards featured a fiery set from the Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s first TV performance of “Focus.” This year’s show will feature Best Artist nominee the Chainsmokers, likely performing the hit “Closer” accompanied by vocal guest Halsey. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars will appear in their capacity as modern pop royalty while Sting and Green Day will be taking the stage to add a layer to their legacies. Twenty One Pilots is the only other Best Artist Nominee set to perform, a nice spotlight for another underdog. Carlos Vives, Shakira, Pitbull, and Fifth Harmony will also hit the AMA stage.

The American Music Awards will take place on Nov. 20 at LA’s Microsoft Theater. The show will broadcast live from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST on ABC. Fans can vote on the awards here.