American Music Awards Presented Wendesday

By
ABC News
January 6, 2006, 5:23 AM ET
2 min read

Jan 9, 2002 -- Michael Jackson is being honored at the American Music Awards as the "Artist of the Century." But tonight, once again, he's the center of controversy.

Jackson's on-again, off-again plans to appear on the AMAs prompted producer Dick Clark to sue Grammy organizer Michael Green, alleging that the Grammys blackball acts who appear on his show.

Jackson had pulled out of the AMAs, allegedly because he was told that he couldn't perform on both shows. After Clark sued Green, claiming that the Grammys strong-armed the King of Pop, Jackson said he'd appear on the AMAs after all.

In a decision designed to placate everyone, Jackson will appear to accept his award. But apparently, he'll only perform in a taped segment. Viewers will see a special recording of his 1988 hit "Man In the Mirror." Keys Tops in Nominations

Alicia Keys leads all artists with five AMA nominations, including favorite new artist and favorite pop/rock female artist. Lenny Kravitz, R.Kelly and Shaggy compete for favorite pop/rock maleartist, and the Dave Matthews Band takes on U2 and 'N Sync for favorite pop/rock band.

Hoping to spice up the event, Clark chose Sean "Puffy" Combs and Jenny McCarthy to host the three-hour show, airing tonight on ABC, live from Los Angeles.

Combs will also perform, along with Lenny Kravitz, Britney Spears, Cher, Kid Rock, Usher and Shaggy.

Luther Vandross will pay musical tribute to stars we lost in 2001, performing George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord," and James Taylor will honor Garth Brooks.

Janet Jackson will appear via satellite hookup from Tokyo, where she's touring. "Janet will be introducing Lenny Kravits," Clark says. "She's up for a couple of awards, so we'll ask her to stand by in case something good happens in that regard."

In defending his right to exclude acts that appear on the AMAs, Green told Reuters, "We have 980 nominees and only 14 performance slots. So who in their right mind would want to regurgitate something that was on just a few weeks earlier?"

The Grammys are held on Feb. 27.

ABCNEWS Radio's Andrea Dresdale contributed to this report.