Mix of old and new highlight American Music Award nominations

Tuesday, September 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Veteran performers, including Fleetwood Mac, Celine Dion and Cher, mixed with youngsters Beyonce and Avril Lavigne on the list of nominees for the 31st annual American Music Awards.

Dion received two nominations Tuesday, for favorite female pop-rock artist and favorite adult contemporary artist, where she's up against Cher and Norah Jones.

Jones, whose folksy, sensuous voice earned her five Grammys earlier this year, is also vying for favorite pop-rock album for her platinum debut ``Come Away With Me.''

No clear favorites emerged Tuesday, with two nominations each going to R. Kelly, Luther Vandross, Ashanti and Beyonce in the soul-R&B category, Shania Twain in the country category and Sean Paul and Missy Elliott in the rap-hip hop category.

Rapper Eminem also received two nods for favorite male rapper and for the soundtrack to his semi-autobiographical film ``8 Mile.''

The 20 awards will be presented during a ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Nov. 16, aired on ABC. Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is the emcee.

The nominations are based on sales figures and radio play. Winners are selected by a survey of about 20,000 listeners. The nominees:

Pop-Rock:

_Male Artist: Clay Aiken, Kid Rock, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake.

_Female Artist: Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez.

_Band, Duo or Group: Fleetwood Mac, matchbox twenty, 3 Doors Down.

_Album: ``Fallen,'' Evanescence; ``Come Away With Me,'' Norah Jones; ``Cocky,'' Kid Rock; ``Justified,'' Justin Timberlake.

Soul-R&B:

_Male Artist: Ginuwine, Jaheim, R. Kelly, Luther Vandross.

_Female Artist: Aaliyah, Ashanti, Beyonce.

_Band, Duo or Group: B2K, Dru Hill, The Isley Brothers.

_Album: ``Chapter II,'' Ashanti; ``Dangerously In Love,'' Beyonce; ``Chocolate Factory,'' R. Kelly; ``Dance With My Father,'' Luther Vandross.

Country:

_Male Artist: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw.

_Female Artist: Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Shania Twain.

_Band, Duo or Group: Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks.

_Album: ``Unleashed,'' Toby Keith; ``Tim McGraw & The Dancehall Doctors,'' Tim McGraw; ``Melt,'' Rascal Flatts; ``Up!'' Shania Twain.

Rap-Hip Hop:

_Male Artist: Eminem, 50 Cent, Nelly, Sean Paul.

_Female Artist: Missy Elliott, Eve, Lil' Kim.

_Band, Duo or Group: Black Eyed Peas, Bone Crusher, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz.

_Album: ``Under Construction,'' Missy Elliott; ``Get Rich Or Die Tryin,''' 50 Cent; ``Dutty Rock,'' Sean Paul; ``8 Mile,'' Soundtrack.

Adult Contemporary:

_Artist: Cher, Celine Dion, Norah Jones.

Latin Music:

_Artist: Kumbia Kings, Ricky Martin, Luis Miguel.

Alternative Music:

_Artist: Coldplay, Linkin Park, Metallica.

Contemporary Inspirational:

_Artist: Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Third Day.