Adele leads American Music Awards nominations

Adele leads the American Music Awards (AMAs) with four nominations.

The 'Rolling in the Deep' singer is in the running for Artist of the Year, Best Rock and Pop Female Artist and Best Album for her second record '21' at the ceremony, one of the major music awards shows in the US calendar.

Sadly, however, she had to pull out of a string of concerts in the US last week due to a vocal chord haemorrhage.

Adele wrote on her blog: "Have absolutely no choice but to recuperate properly and fully, or I risk damaging my voice forever."

The 'Set Fire to the Rain' hitmaker is closely followed at the awards by pop singers Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, rapper Lil Wayne and country group The Band Perry, who are all nominated for three trophies each.

Rappers Nicki Minaj and Pitbull - who hosted the nominations - also picked up two nominations each, Pitbull in the Favourite Latin Music Artist and Favourite Pop or Rock Male Artist categories and Nicki in the Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Album categories for her 'Pink Friday' debut.

Speaking of his nominations, Pitbull said: "It's an honour to be here with the kind of calibre of artists here. Me, I come to the awards shows and I just learn, I watch everyone, I see how they handle their performances and hopefully grab a couple things and apply it to my career.

"So to be here nominated and to also be performing at the AMAs, I want to thank you."

Winners will be determined by votes cast online and the awards will take place on November 20 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, with performances from Katy Perry and Pitbull, among others.

Full list of nominations at the AMAs 2011:

Artist of the Year

Adele

Lady Gaga

Lil Wayne

Taylor Swift

Katy Perry

Pop or Rock Music: Favourite Male Artist

Bruno Mars

Justin Bieber

Pitbull

Pop or Rock Music: Favourite Female Artist

Adele

Katy Perry

Lady Gaga

Pop or Rock Music: Favourite Band, Duo or Group

Maroon 5

LMFAO

OneRepublic

Pop or Rock Music: Favourite Album

Adele - '21'

Rihanna - 'Loud'

Lady Gaga - 'Born This Way'

Country Music: Favourite Male Artist

Jason Aldean

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Country Music: Favourite Female Artist

Sara Evans

Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift

Country Music: Favourite Band, Duo or Group

The Band Perry

Lady Antebellum

Zac Brown Band

Country Music: Favourite Album

Taylor Swift - 'Speak Now'

The Band Perry - 'The Band Perry'

Jason Aldean - 'My Kinda Party'

Rap/Hip-Hop Music: Favourite Artist

Lil Wayne

Nicki Minaj

Kanye West

Rap/Hip-Hop Music: Favourite Album

Jay-Z and Kanye West - 'Watch The Throne'

Nicki Minaj - 'Pink Friday'

Lil Wayne - 'Tha Carter IV'

Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music: Favourite Male Artist

Chris Brown

Trey Songz

Usher

Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music: Favourite Female Artist

Beyonce

Rihanna

Kelly Rowland

Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music: Favourite Album

Beyonce - '4'

Chris Brown - 'F.A.M.E.'

Rihanna - 'Loud'

Alternative Rock Music: Favourite Artist

Foo Fighters

Black Eyes

Mumford & Sons

Adult Contemporary Music: Favourite Artist

Bruno Mars

Katy Perry

Adele

Latin Music: Favourite Artist

Enrique Iglesias

Jennifer Lopez

Pitbull

Contemporary Inspirational Music: Favourite Artist

Casting Crowns

Tobymac

Third Day