Jay-Z Brings 'Kingdom Come' to AMAs

Nov. 21, 2006 — -- After a three-year layoff, Jay-Z releases a new album today, and his performance at tonight's American Music Awards is sure to be one of the show's highlights.

"I'm the type of person, when I take on a project, I get so overwhelmed by it," the 36-year-old hip-hop legend told ABC Radio, talking about how he was lured back to record "Kingdom Come."

"I had got these tracks from Dr. Dre, and I was listening to 'em and it was like, 'Well, let me go into the studio to see what'll happen. … Let's see if I can put something together.'"

Beyonce, Jay-Z's girlfriend, performs on the album, and she'll also be performing on tonight's show, which will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast live on ABC TV at 8 p.m. ET.

Other featured artists include Gwen Stefani, Fall Out Boy, Snoop Dogg, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and The Pussycat Dolls.

Kimmel says he enjoys hosting the AMAs, because unlike other awards show, it's not predictable.

The atmosphere is toned down, and the stars aren't rushed off stage, after reading carefully scripted comments.

"Anything can happen," he said. "A couple of years ago when I hosted, Anna Nicole Smith had her famous flip-out on the air. And that was just all I could possibly ask for. I tried to get them to invite her again. … Or somebody with a problem."

Paris Hilton, Ashlee Simpson, Clay Aiken and Taylor Hicks are among this year's star-studded crop of award presenters.

"If somebody nude runs onstage or does something fun," Kimmel said, "I'll have a little fun with it."

Mariah Carey, Nickleback, the Black-Eyed Peas, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are the lead nominees, with three nods each.

Mary J. Blige, the Pussycat Dolls, Kelly Clarkson, Eminem, Carrie Underwood, T.I. and Kanye West are among the artists who have two nominations.

The AMAs are considered by some as a populist alternative to the Grammys.

Nominees in each musical genre are selected based on record sales, and winners are determined by a survey of about 20,000 music listeners.

"It's my first one, so I'm extremely flattered," said Nick Lachey, who is nominated for Favorite Male Artist in the Pop/Rock category, along with Sean Paul and Kanye West.

"Any time you're even nominated in one of those categories, you've already won, so to speak, so I'm very, very happy and honored to be a part of that and we'll see what happens."

ABC-TV is a division of The Walt Disney Co., which is also the parent company of ABC News.