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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Music icon Stevie Wonder is to lead a tribute to the late television personality Dick Clark on the 40th anniversary American Music Awards ceremony, ABC said. The performance at Sunday's event at the NOKIA Theatre LA LIVE will be introduced by Ryan Seacrest.
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Wonder joins previously announced performers including Christina Aguilera, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, Carly Rae Jepsen, Carrie Underwood, Ke$ha, Linkin Park, Nicki Minaj, No Doubt, P!nk, Pitbull, Psy, Taylor Swift, Usher, The Wanted and Swizz Beatz featuring Chris Brown and Ludacris on this year's show, which will be broadcast live on ABC.
Clark, who died of a heart attack in April at the age of 82, created the American Music Awards in 1973 to give the music-loving public an opportunity to recognize their favorite artists and records of the year, ABC said in a news release. He was the host of "American Bandstand" from 1956 to 1989.
"Without a Dick Clark, our entire current musical repertoire might be classical in nature. Not that there's anything wrong with classical music, but Clark helped Beethoven roll over and tell Tchaikovsky the news. Sunday's tribute to Dick Clark performed by the iconic Stevie Wonder is going to be talked about for years to come," AMA producer Larry Klein said in a statement Wednesday.
"I am honored to be a part of the AMAs' tribute to Dick Clark. He was a mentor, friend and a wonderful advocate for popular music, helping make it one of the cornerstones of American culture. We miss him dearly," said Seacrest. "He gave hundreds of stars their national TV debut. So, it's only fitting that one of music's legends, Stevie Wonder, will play at Sunday's tribute. It will be a great show."
Wonder won the awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Superstition" and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist at the first AMAs show. Since then, he has won nine AMAs, including an Award of Merit in 1982.
