American Music Awards 2012: Justin Bieber Will Win Artist of the Year, and Other Predictions

Culture

The 40th American Music Awards will take place this Sunday at 8:00 p.m. (ETS) from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California. The program will be broadcast on ABC, and will feature performances by Carly Rae Jepsen, Kelly Clarkson and Nicki Minaj among others. 

However, the main attraction is the potentially shirtless performance of Justin Bieber, who recently broke up with Selena Gomez and celebrated it by posting a shirtless photo of himself on Instagram. In addition, Korean pop sensation PSY will be expected to bring down the house with his "Gangnam Style," while Carly Rae Jepsen (the "Call me Maybe" girl) will also try to shine on her prime time American debut.

Here are this year's predictions:

Artist of the Year:           

Drake

Justin Bieber (*)

Maroon 5

Katy Perry

Rihanna

(*) It should be Maroon 5, but they'll give it to Bieber as a rite of passage present into single male adulthood 

Sprint New Artist of the Year:

J. Cole

fun.

Gotye (*)

Carly Rae Jepsen

One Direction

(*) Because Carly Rae is too mainstream  

Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist:           

Justin Bieber (*)

Flo Rida

Pitbull

Usher

(*) They're just going to make it rain on him. It'll be a landslide 

Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist:

Kelly Clarkson

Nicki Minaj

Rihanna (*)

Katy Perry

(*) It should be Katy Perry, but they'll give it to Ri Ri because of her 777 tour

Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group:           

Maroon 5 (*)

One Direction

The Wanted

(*) So they don't have to pick between either of the Brtish boy bands

Favorite Pop/Rock Album:

Believe by Justin Bieber

Overexposed by Maroon 5 (*)

Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded by Nicki Minaj

Up All Night by One Direction

(*) There is still a change they pick Biebs, but I hope they don't 

Favorite Country Male Artist:           

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan (*)

Eric Church

(*) Because he is the better looking of them 

Favorite Country Female Artist:

Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift (*)

Carrie Underwood

(*) Hopefully Kanye West doesn't interrupt her again

Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group:           

Zac Brown Band

Lady Antebellum (*)

Rascal Flatts

(*) Because they're the most mainstream ones

Favorite Country Album:

Tailgates & Tanlines by Luke Bryan

Tuskegee by Lionel Richie

Blown Away by Carrie Underwood (*)

(*) As a consolation for not getting Favorite Female Country Artist 

Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist:           

Drake (*)

Nicki Minaj

Tyga

(*) There is a chance Minaj gets it in the name of flashiness 

Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album:

Cole World: The Sideline Story by J. Cole

Take Care by Drake (*)

Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded by Nicki Minaj

(*) If he doesn't win the previous category 

Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist:           

Chris Brown (*)

Trey Songz

Usher

(*) Because Usher is just not that hot anymore

Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist:

Beyoncé

Mary J. Blige

Rihanna (*)

(*) Why are the other two even nominated?

Favorite Soul/R&B Album:            

Fortune by Chris Brown

Talk That Talk by Rihanna

Looking 4 Myself by Usher (*)

(*) Just to avoid a fight between the two other contenders 

Favorite Alternative Artist:

The Black Keys

Gotye (*)

Linkin Park

(*) If he doesn't win the Sprint New Artist of the Year category  

Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist:           

Adele (*)

Kelly Clarkson

Train

(*) Because of the James Bond song  

Favorite Latin Artist:

Don Omar

Pitbull (*)

Shakira

(*) He's  been in ALL recordings this year

Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist:           

Jeremy Camp

Newsboys

tobyMac

(*) No idea who are wny of these

Favorite Electronic Dance Music (NEW):

David Guetta (*)

Calvin Harris

Skrillex

(*) It should go to Skrillex. They just don't have Guetta's name recognition