The American Music Awards are the only major pop music awards voted on by music fans. The awards will be telecast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC Television.

My predictions are simply that...predictions. It will be up to the music fans to choose the actual winners. My predicted winner in each category is in bold type. I have included comments on each nominee.

I am making predictions only in the Pop/Rock category. Check the full listing of nominations to see who is up for awards in every category.

Male Artist

• 50 Cent - I think it will be 50's year. The Massacre is one of the biggest hit albums of the year, and we were listening to hits like "Candy Shop," "Disco Inferno," and "Just a Lil Bit" all year.
  
  
• Will Smith - If he had been able to follow up "Switch" with another hit, he might have been a contender, but Smith's latest album Lost and Found was lost for most of the year.
  
  
• Rob Thomas - He's a darkhorse. He made a successful transition from group leader to solo artist, but I just don't think his success can match that of 50 Cent.

Female Artist

• Mariah Carey - This will be a very, very tight category, but I will have to go with Carey who has won the award 3 times before. Her comeback this year is a towering achievement and the single "We Belong Together" is one of the biggest pop hits of all time.
  
  
• Kelly Clarkson - Her second album Breakaway has managed to make her victory on American Idol just a past event on her musical resume, not a defining moment. She is for real, but I don't think this is her year yet.
  
  

• Gwen Stefani - She has proven herself a master of a wide range of pop genres, and no one will ever forget "Hollaback Girl," but her appeal is not quite as widespread as Mariah Carey. Like Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani may eventually win this award, but I don't think this is her year.

Band, Duo, Or Group

• Black Eyed Peas - They have had a good commercial year, but the Peas have turned off some long-time fans due to what some fans see as pandering to the commercial audience. "My Humps" is a huge chart success, but few would call it fine musical art.
  
  
• Green Day - American Idiot won Grammy Awards last winter and has continued to be a contending album all through 2005 spinning off 3 consecutive major hits - "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams," "Holiday," and "Wake Me Up When September Ends." The MTV Video Music Awards shined on Green Day this past summer, and I think they will take home hardware from the AMA's.
  
  
• 3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down seem to be the nominee needed to fill out the category, and I don't think they have a chance against the other two nominees.

New Artist

• The Killers
• - These Las Vegas natives are the class of this category. "Mr. Brightside" is one of the most memorable singles of the year, and the group's leader Brandon Flowers is a definite star for the future.
  
  
• Jesse McCartney - He is a teen favorite, but his music just doesn't inspire the same loyalty as the Killers.
  
  
• Sugarland - They are a talented country trio, but I don't think they can overcome the pop/rock hordes favoring the Killers. However, country star Gretchen Wilson defeated Kanye West and Maroon 5 in this category last year.

Album

• Mariah Carey - The Emancipation Of Mimi - This is probably the closest of any pop/rock category, but I think Carey will triumph. Her music has simply appealed to such a wide audience, that I think it will be difficult for anyone to defeat her.
  
  
• Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway - She is the proof that American Idol can actually find a star. From the rock of "Since U Been Gone" to the emotional balladry of "Because Of You," Clarkson has had a place on radio for the entire year. She will be in the running.
  
  
• Green Day - American Idiot - This is clearly one of the most powerful and moving albums of the year, but I think they will lose by a hair. If pop and rock were separate categories at the AMA's, Green Day would have no serious competition for the rock award.