Bieber, One Direction, Swift set for American Music Awards
Taylor Swift performed during the "1989" world tour at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 22. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Though Justin Bieber isn’t up for the top award at Sunday’s American Music Awards, he still could end up celebrating.
The singer’s comeback album, "Purpose," is likely to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart — though it’s in a close race with One Direction’s "Made In the A.M." Both albums were released Nov. 13, and Billboard will announce the news Sunday.
Bieber is also performing a medley of his hits at the awards show airing from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The show, hosted by Jennifer Lopez, will feature other A-listers, too: Carrie Underwood, Coldplay, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani and Luke Bryan will perform.
One Direction, who will also hit the stage, is nominated for artist of the year, pitting the group against Grande, Bryan, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift.
Swift has had the most successful year of the bunch, thanks to her top-selling album "1989" and hits like "Bad Blood" and "Black Space." She is the leading AMAs nominee with six.
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Her nominations include song and collaboration of the year for "Bad Blood" with Kendrick Lamar, favorite female artist — pop/rock, favorite album — pop/rock for "1989" and favorite artist — adult contemporary.
Behind Swift with five nominations are Sheeran and the Weeknd, who had a breakout year with the No. 1 hits "The Hills" and "Can’t Feel My Face." The latter is competing for song of the year against Sheeran’s "Thinking Out Loud," Swift’s "Bad Blood," ”See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, and Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ "Uptown Funk!"
The Weeknd will also hit the stage, and the night will take an emotional turn when Celine Dion honors the victims of the recent attacks in Paris when she sings Edith Piaf’s "Hymne à L’Amour" in French.
Other performers Sunday include 5 Seconds of Summer, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Walk the Moon, Meghan Trainor and Puth.
Trainor, Sam Smith, Nicki Minaj, Sam Hunt and Walk the Moon are nominated for three awards apiece.
The fan-voted show will air 7 p.m. in Hawaii on KITV.
