Soul Train Awards: Usher, Alicia Keys Lead 4 Nods, Drake 3, Nicki Minaj 2

Alicia Keys and Usher have been nominated for four Soul Train Awards with Drake following behind the two music stars with three.

Singer/songwriter Alicia Keys who gave birth on last Thursday (Oct 14) has more great news — she’s been nominated for the Soul Train Awards for “Best R&B/Soul Artist,” “Album of The Year,” “Song of The Year,” and “Record of The Year.” Usher on the other hand has been nominated for “Best Male R&B/Soul Male,” “Best Dance Performance,” “Song of The Year” and “Album of The Year.” Rapper and singer Drake is up for “Best Hip Hop Song of The Year,” “Album of The Year” and “Record of The Year.” It seems like the three will have a little bit of competition going on for “Album of The Year.”

There are a number of artists and entertainers who received two nominations. Singer and season 3 American Idol winner Fantasia is up for two nominations for “Best R&B/Soul Artist Female” and “Record of The Year,” Monica for “Best R&B/Soul Artist Female” and “Song of The Year” and Erykah Badu for “Best R&B/Soul Artist Female” and “Album of The Year.” Hip Hop artist and rapper Nicki Minaj received two nominations for “Best New Artist” and “Best Hip Hop Song of The Year.” Janelle Monae got two nominations for “Best Dance Performance” and “CENTRIC Award,” rapper B.o.B got two nominations, one for “Best New Artist” and “Song of The Year.” Legendary singer Sade, who recently returned to the music scene, is up for “Song of The Year” and “Album of The Year.”

Meanwhile, Melanie Fiona, B.o.B., Nicki Minaj, Dondria and Wale are all up for “Best New Artist.”

The “Legend” award will be presented to legendary singers Anita Baker and Ron Isley.

And to kick the Soul Train Awards off, the show will be opened by R&B singer and platinum music producer R. Kelly. Other performances include Ne-Yo, Cee-lo, Keyshia Cole, Rick Ross, Erykah Badu, Eric Benet, Chrisette Michele, Lalah Hathaway, Faith Evans, Janelle Monae, Gyptian, Freddie Jackson, Jeffrey Osborne, Tamia, and Tank.

The 2010 Soul Train Awards will be on CENTRIC and BET Sunday, November 28 at 9:00 PM EST and will be hosted by Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard and Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson

2010 Soul Train Awards – Nominations List

BEST NEW ARTIST
Melanie Fiona
B.o.B.
Nicki Minaj
Dondria
Wale

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE
Alicia Keys
Erykah Badu
Monica
Fantasia

BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE
Usher
Kem
Trey Songz
Ne-Yo

BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
Gyptian
Damian Marley
Mr. Vegas
Jah Cure
Vybz Kartel
Gramps Morgan

BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP
Youthful Praise feat. J.J. Harrison
Fred Hammond
Marvin Sapp
Lisa Page Brooks
Hezekiah Walker & LFC
Tye Tribbett

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE
Rihanna, “Rude Boy”
Ne-Yo, “Beautiful Monster”
Usher, “OMG”
Janelle Monae f/ Big Boi, “Tightrope”

CENTRIC AWARD
Jesse Boykins III
Dwele
Dondria
Corrine Bailey Rae
Janelle Monae

BEST HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
“Love The Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna
“B.M.F. (Blowin Money Fast)” – Rick Ross feat. Styles P
“Your Love” – Nicki Minaj
“Find Your Love” – Drake
“Shutterbugg” – Big Boi feat. Cutty
“I Got Your Back” – T.I. feat. Keri Hilson

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Everything To Me” – Monica
“There Goes My Baby” – Usher
“Un-Thinkable(I’m Ready)” – Alicia Keys
“Soldier Of Love” – Sade
“Nothing On You” – B.o.B. feat. Bruno Mars

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Alicia Keys – The Element Of Freedom
Usher – Raymond vs. Raymond
Sade – Soldier of Love
Drake – Thank Me Later
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two-Return of the Ankh

RECORD OF THE YEAR
Fantasia – “Bittersweet” (Charles Harmon, Claude Kelly, Michael Mentore)
El Debarge – “Second Chance” (songwriters: El Debarge & Mischke)
Drake –”Find Your Love” (songwriters: Bhasker, J; Graham, A; Reynolds, P; West, Kanye)
R.Kelly – “When A Women Loves” (songwriter R. Kelly)
Alicia Keys – “Un-Thinkable(I’m Ready)” (songwriters: Keys, Aubrey Graham, Brothers, Noah “40″ Shebib)

LEGENDS AWARDS
Anita Baker
Ron Isley