INITIAL PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR 32nd ANNUAL "AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS"

Usher, Jessica Simpson, Toby Keith, Kanye West, Kenny Chesney, Josh Groban and Gretchen Wilson Are Set

The seven initial performers set to appear on the 32nd annual "American Music Awards," which airs SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network, are not only all nominees for this year's awards but have each also attained multi-platinum status for their current albums, and between them have sold almost 25 million copies of those albums.

Scheduled to perform thus far are: International superstar Usher (4 nominations/quintuple platinum), Country Music Entertainer of the Year Toby Keith (2 nominations/triple platinum), Rapper Kanye West (3 nominations/double platinum), Vocal phenom Josh Groban (1 nomination/triple platinum), Country's hottest newcomer, Gretchen Wilson, Country superstar Kenny Chesney, and singer/actress/entrepreneur Jessica Simpson (each with 2 nominations/double platinum).

Additional artists will be added to the lineup and announced at a later date. Hosting the show is Jimmy Kimmel.

A total of 19 publicly voted awards will be presented on this year's "American Music Awards" in eight areas of music -- Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues, Rap/Hip-Hop, Latin Music, Adult Contemporary, Alternative Music and Contemporary Inspirational.

The live special, which emanates from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, is a presentation of dick clark productions, inc., with Clark serving as executive producer. Larry Klein produces the telecast and Jeff Margolis directs.