BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Soul singers Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston led all performers in nominations announced Tuesday for the 14th annual American Music Awards to be presented in a nationally telecast ceremony next month.
Jackson, the younger sister of singer Michael Jackson, garnered nine nominations in the pop rock and soul music categories, and Houston received seven nominations.
Nominees were chosen on the basis of year-end sales, but winners will be selected through a nationwide poll.
Other leading nominees included Billy Ocean, The Judds and Run-D.M.C. with five each, Reba McEntire and Lionel Richie with four each and Alabama, Cameo, Madonna, Robert Palmer and George Strait with two each.
Diana Ross will emcee the presentations in a show produced by Dick Clark and telecast on ABC from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Jan. 26.
The nominees are:
Pop-rock Male Vocalist -- Peter Gabriel, Robert Palmer, Lionel Richie and David Lee Roth.
Pop-rock Female Vocalist -- Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Madonna and Tina Turner.
Pop-rock Duo or Group -- Genesis, Heart, Huey Lewis & the News and Van Halen.
Pop-rock Single -- 'Higher Love,' Steve Winwood; 'Live to Tell,' Madonna; 'There'll Be Sad Songs,' Billy Ocean; and 'West End Girls,' Pet Shop Boys.
Pop-rock Album -- 'Control,' Janet Jackson; '5150,' Van Halen; 'Top Gun,' Soundtrack; and 'Whitney Houston,' Whitney Houston.
Pop-rock Male Video Artist -- Peter Gabriel, Howard Jones, Billy Ocean and Robert Palmer.
Pop-rock Female Video Artist -- Belinda Carlisle, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and Madonna.
Pop-rock Video Duo or Group -- Culture Club, Huey Lewis & The News, Run-DMC and Simple Minds.
Pop-rock Video Single -- 'Dancing on the Ceiling,' Lionel Richie; 'I Didn't Mean to Turn You On,' Robert Palmer; 'Mad About You,' Belinda Carlisle, and 'When I Think Of You,' Janet Jackson.
Country Male Vocalist -- Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson, George Strait and Hank Williams, Jr.
Country Female Vocalist -- Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Juice Newton and Tanya Tucker.
Country Duo or Group -- Alabama, The Forester Sisters, The Judds, and Marie Osmand and Paul Davis.
Country Single -- 'Diggin' Up Bones,' Randy Travis; 'Everything That Glitters is Not Gold,' Dan Seals; 'Grandpa,' The Judds, and 'You Can Dream of Me,' Steve Wariner.
Country Album -- 'Greatest Hits,' Alabama; 'Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain,' The Judds; 'Something Special,' George Strait, and 'Whoever's In New England,' Reba McEntire.
Country Male Video Artist -- George Jones, Mel McDaniel, Gary Morris and George Strait.
Country Female Video Artist -- Janie Frickie, Reba McEntire, Anne Murray and Marie Osmond.
Country Video Duo or Group -- Alabama, The Forester Sisters, The Judds and Sawyer Brown.
Country Video Single -- 'Grandpa,' The Judds; 'Honky Tonk Man,' Dwight Yoakam; 'Whoever's In New England,' Reba McEntire, and 'Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes,' George Jones.
Soul Male Vocalist -- Freddie Jackson, Billy Ocean, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder.
Soul Female Vocalist -- Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and Patti LaBelle.
Soul Duo or Group -- Atlantic Starr, Cameo, New Edition and Run-D.M.C.
Soul Single -- 'Kiss,' Prince & The Revolution; 'Nasty,' Janet Jackson; 'Rumors,' Timex Social Club, and 'Word Up,' Cameo.
Soul Album -- 'Control,' Janet Jackson; 'Raising Hell,' Run-D.M.C.; 'Rapture,' Anita Baker, and 'Whitney Houston,' Whitney Houston.
Soul Male Video Artist -- James Brown, Oran 'Juice' Jones, Billy Ocean and Lionel Richie.
Soul Female Video Artist -- Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and Tina Turner.
Soul Video Duo or Group -- Cameo, Jets, Kool & the Gang and Run-D.M.C.
Soul Video Single -- 'Greatest Love of All,' Whitney Houston; 'There'll Be Sad Songs,' Billy Ocean; 'Walk This Way,' Run-D.M.C., and 'When I Think of You,' Janet Jackson.
