The American Music Awards Pretty Much Give Up

No, really. Let’s look at the nominees for this year’s awards, which will air Nov. 23. And remember that each category only needs to be filled out with three nominees. Not a big number, especially in a year with so much music, right? Well, first we have to excuse the preponderance of albums that came out more than a year ago–like Kanye West’s Graduation (released Sept. 11, 2007) and Rascal Flatts’ Still Feels Good (released Sept. 25, 2007)–on the list, what with there being no “awards season” for records the way there is for movies. Then we have to overlook the idea of Flo Rida being anyone’s favorite anything so long after “Low” finally let go of the No. 1 spot on the pop charts. And sure, the Best Soundtrack category, which has one album full of reconstituted Abba songs (Mamma Mia!) vying against an album that’s pretty much Stars That Are Supposed To Be On 33 On 45 (Alvin And The Chipmunks, which features sped-up versions of “Bad Day” and “Funkytown) and the Juno soundtrack, was probably tough to fill out. But a Garth Brooks greatest-hits record nominated in the Favorite Country Album category? Really, American Music Awards? I know country’s had a rough year, but this is basically the equivalent of waving a white flag and telling the world, “hey, popular music is totally irrelevant! No reason to watch our show!” Sigh. Full list of nominees after the jump.

FAVORITE MALE POP/ROCK ARTIST Chris Brown Kid Rock Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE POP/ROCK ARTIST Mariah Carey Alicia Keys Rihanna

FAVORITE POP/ROCK BAND, DUO OR GROUP Coldplay Eagles Daughtry

FAVORITE POP/ROCK ALBUM Coldplay, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden Alicia Keys, As I Am

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST Garth Brooks Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley

FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST Reba McEntire Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE COUNTRY BAND, DUO OR GROUP Brooks & Dunn Rascal Flatts Sugarland

FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM Garth Brooks, The Ultimate Hits Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride

FAVORITE MALE RAP/HIP-HOP ARTIST Flo Rida Lil Wayne Kanye West

FAVORITE RAP/HIP-HOP BAND, DUO OR GROUP G Unit Three 6 Mafia Wu-Tang Clan

FAVORITE RAP/HIP-HOP ALBUM Jay-Z, American Gangster Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III Kayne West, Graduation

FAVORITE MALE SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES ARTIST Chris Brown J. Holiday Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES ARTIST Mary J. Blige Alicia Keys Rihanna

FAVORITE SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES ALBUM Mary J. Blige, Growing Pains Mariah Carey, E=MC2 Alicia Keys, As I Am

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM Alvin And The Chipmunks Juno Mamma Mia!

FAVORITE ALTERNATIVE ROCK ARTIST Coldplay Foo Fighters Linkin Park

FAVORITE ADULT CONTEMPORARY ARTIST Daughtry Eagles Jordin Sparks

FAVORITE LATIN ARTIST Enrique Iglesias Juanes Wisin Y Yandel

FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST Casting Crowns MercyMe Third Day

T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST Colbie Caillat Flo Rida Jonas Brothers Paramore The-Dream

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Lil Wayne Chris Brown Alicia Keys Eagles Coldplay

American Music Awards Nominees Announced [Marketwatch]