The American Music Awards Tonight
Update: AMA arrival photos are already posted at Wireimage. Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks (bottom of the page), and here. thanks foxydonna
The American Music Awards are tonight at 8/7c on ABC. Idols figure prominently in every aspect of the broadcast. Presenting tonight are: Taylor Hicks (presenting an R&B award, according to Gray Charles), Katharine McPhee and Clay Aiken. Kelly Clarkson is nominated for Favorite Female Artist – Pop Rock and Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary. Carrie Underwood is nominated for Favorite Female Artist – Country and Favorite New Breakthrough Artist. Carrie will also perform a medley of her hit singles, “Jesus, Take the Wheel, ” “Dont Forget to Remember Me, ” and “Before He Cheats.”
I was researching the AMA’s and came across this Wikipedia entry. Here are some fun facts to know and tell:
- The AMA’s were created in 1973 by Dick Clark to compete with the Grammys
- Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond co-hosted the first AMA telecast with Rodney Allen Rippy and Ricky Segall.
- While the Grammys are awarded based on votes by members of the entertainment industry, the AMAs are determined by a poll of music buyers.
- Specifically, “A national sampling of approximately 20, 000, taking into account geographic location, age, sex and ethnic origin, [are] sent ballots by the National Family Opinion, Inc. firm under the supervision of Broadcast Research and Consulting, Inc. Names of the nominees on the ballot [are] compiled from data supplied by the music industry trade publication, Radio & Records and Nielsen Soundscan.”
- Glen Campbell has co-hosted the AMAs more times than any other host or co-host.
- The most American Music Awards for a group belongs to Alabama who have collected twenty-two awards.
- The record for a solo artist belongs to Whitney Houston who has amassed twenty-three awards.
- The record for the most American Music Awards won in a single year is held by both Michael Jackson (for 1983’s Thriller), and Whitney Houston (for 1993’s The Bodyguard Soundtrack), each won 8 awards.
