BEVERLY HILLS, California — Alicia Keys leads the list of contenders for the 29th annual American Music Awards, with her five nominations besting 'NSYNC, Aaliyah and Destiny's Child, who are among 10 artists with two nods apiece.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Jewel announced the nominees Tuesday morning (November 13) at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Other artists with two nominations are Janet Jackson, R. Kelly, Shaggy, Dave Matthews Band, Tim McGraw, Lonestar and Brooks & Dunn.

Keys, who will present an award at the ceremony January 9 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, is nominated for Favorite Female Artist and Favorite New Artist in both the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories, along with Favorite Soul/R&B Album for Songs in A Minor.

"Alicia is great. She deserves it," Jewel said after announcing Keys' nominations. "It's nice to see people who write their own stuff doing well. When I won a [Best New Artist] AMA it was really fun, because it's fan-nominated. That's a great thing. It makes you feel like you are connecting with people."

The American Music Awards, whose nominees and winners are determined by fan voting, tend to recognize more commercially successful artists than the Grammys. Last year's winners included Creed, Kid Rock and Toni Braxton.

Combs will host this year's ceremony, which will feature performances from Kid Rock, Cher, Shaggy and Brooks & Dunn.

Ja Rule and Ludacris have been announced as presenters, while Dick Clark, the producer of the awards, said Tuesday that Garth Brooks, Redman and Method Man will also be involved, along with more artists who will be announced at a later date.

For the first time this year, the American Music Awards will present the Coca-Cola New Music Award to an unsigned band, which will get to perform at the awards show. The entries in that category, which has been narrowed from 50, are Denver's Yo, Flaco!, New York's Live Honey and Richmond, Virginia's Carbon Leaf.

"It's not like playing the local Howard Johnson's. They will be seen by several million people," Clark said.

The award show will be broadcast live on ABC, except on the West Coast, where it will be tape-delayed.

American Music Awards nominees:

  • Favorite Male Artist - Pop/Rock
    Lenny Kravitz
    R. Kelly
    Shaggy

  • Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock
    Janet Jackson
    Alicia Keys
    Jennifer Lopez

  • Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Pop/Rock
    Dave Matthews Band
    'NSYNC
    U2

  • Favorite Album - Pop/Rock
    Dave Matthews Band - Everyday
    Destiny's Child - Survivor
    'NSYNC - Celebrity

  • Favorite New Artist - Pop/Rock
    Nelly Furtado
    Alicia Keys
    Lifehouse

  • Favorite Male Artist - Soul/R&B
    Ginuwine
    R. Kelly
    Luther Vandross

  • Favorite Female Artist - Soul/R&B
    Aaliyah
    Mary J. Blige
    Alicia Keys

  • Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Soul/R&B
    Destiny's Child
    The Isley Brothers, featuring Ronald Isley, a.k.a. Mr. Biggs
    Jagged Edge

  • Favorite Album - Soul/R&B
    Aaliyah - Aaliyah
    Janet Jackson - All for You
    Alicia Keys - Songs in A Minor

  • Favorite New Artist - Soul/R&B
    Blu Cantrell
    Alicia Keys
    Musiq Soulchild

  • Favorite Artist - Rap/Hip-Hop
    Nelly
    Ja Rule
    Shaggy

  • Favorite Artist - Alternative
    Limp Bizkit
    Linkin Park
    Staind

  • Favorite Artist - Adult Contemporary
    Enya
    LeAnn Rimes
    Sade

  • Favorite Artist - Latin Music
    Enrique Iglesias
    Shakira
    Jaci Velasquez

  • Favorite Soundtrack
    American Pie 2
    Moulin Rouge
    Save the Last Dance

For a full list of the nominees, go to the American Music Awards Web site.