From nominations and notes to performers and presenters, here’s everything a country music fan needs to know about the 2019 American Music Awards.
Date: Nov. 24
Time: 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT
Location: Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
Television Station: ABC
Host: Ciara
Pre-Show: 6 p.m. ET via Twitter
Performers: Thomas Rhett, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera & A Great Big World, Toni Braxton, Camila Cabello, Billie Eilish, Green Day, Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers, Kesha feat. Big Freedia, Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Post Malone feat. Travis Scott & Ozzy Osbourne
Presenters: Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Dan + Shay, Carole King, Paula Abdul, Tyra Banks, Chadwick Boseman, Misty Copeland, Rivers Cuomo, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenna Dewan, David Dobrik, Michael Ealy, Maddie Hasson, Maya Hawke, Jameela Jamil, Jharrel Jerome, Taran Killam, Regina King, Heidi Klum, Katherine Langford, Dan Levy, Megan Thee Stallion, Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Cobie Smulders, Pete Wentz and Constance Wu
Tribute: Taylor Swift will be presented with the Artist of the Decade award by Carole King
Nomination Criteria: The nominations are based on key fan interactions, including album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, social activity and touring. The measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound, reflecting the time period from Sept. 28, 2018, through Sept. 26, 2019. The American Music Awards winners are voted entirely by fans.
Country-Centric Nominees
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
- Kane Brown
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Maren Morris
- Carrie Underwood
FAVORITE DUO or GROUP – COUNTRY
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Old Dominion
FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
- Kane Brown – Experiment
- Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
- Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty
FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
- Luke Combs – “Beautiful Crazy”
- Dan + Shay – “Speechless”
- Blake Shelton – “God’s Country”
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Billie Eilish
- Lil Nas X
- Lizzo
- Ella Mai
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
- Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – “Shallow”
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road”
- Marshmello & Bastille – “Happier”
- Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita”
- Post Malone & Swae Lee – “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
- Billie Eilish – “bad guy”
- Ariana Grande – “7 rings”
- Halsey – “Without Me”
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road”
- Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down”
FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
- Halsey -“Without Me”
- Jonas Brothers – “Sucker”
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road”
- Panic! At The Disco – “High Hopes”
- Post Malone & Swae Lee – “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”
FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus -“Old Town Road”
- Post Malone – “Wow.”
- Travis Scott – “SICKO MODE”
photos by O’Connor/Arroyo, AFF-USA.com