HOT ARTIST ADDED TO THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS

The list of star-studded performers keeps growing for the 40th annual American Music Awards, with Justin Bieber, Usher, Ke$ha and No Doubt added to the lineup on Monday (November 5). These major acts join an already announced list of chart-topping performers including Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Pink, Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park, who will all take the stage when the show airs live on November 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. More performers and presenters will be revealed in the upcoming weeks. Justin Bieber is up for three awards this year including Artist of the Year, which he won in 2010. Bieber's mentor, Usher, is also in the running with three nominations and the two will face off against each other in the category for Favorite Male Artist: Pop/Rock. On Sunday, Usher tweeted his excitement about his AMA nominations. "It feels good to be recognized for my work on#Looking4Myself ," Usher wrote. "Really proud of my 3 AMA nominations!" Leading the pack of nominees are Rihanna and Minaj, who have four nods apiece. Following closely behind are Drake, Maroon 5 and One Direction with three, while Chris Brown, Fun. and Gotye each have two nominations. Find out who wins the big awards when the 40th annual American Music Awards broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on November 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO IS MAKING A COMEBACK!

This month, Centric will premiere its new talent show “Apollo Live,” an update of the “Amateur Night” portion of the syndicated “Showtime at the Apollo” series – where the audience is encouraged to boo an act that’s not on point. Filmed inside of the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, “Apollo Live” will give its amateurs more than just bragging rights. Contestants can walk away with cash and prizes in addition to the respect of the toughest crowd in showbiz. “I’ve been booed at the Apollo,” says Jamie Foxx, the executive producer of “Apollo Live” along with Marcus King and Don Weiner.  “When I first went to New York as a young comedian and Sinbad brought me out, I think he kind of set me up, too, because he said, ‘We’ve got a West Coast comedian.’ Immediately they started booing before I even got on the stage.” Executive produced by Jamie Foxx, Marcus King, and Don Weiner, the show features soul legend, Gladys Knight; veteran emcee Doug E. Fresh, and New Edition’s Michael Bivins as judges, while comedian Tony Rock will serve as host.

CELEBRITY QUICKIES

50 Cent’s former friendship with boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has spiraled down into an inevitable exchange of insults played out across Twitter. The former partners and BFFs fell out when plans to set up fight promotion company TMT fell through.  In a series of Twitter posts, the G-Unit mogul wrote, “TMT Is Over. the money team is no longer a team… I’m no longer apart or down with TMT promotions… cause the other half of the money team Didnt put up there $Money$ (sic).” Mayweather tweeted in response: Mayweather went on to call 50 “A male boxing groupie…,” adding, “hold my belts because your album sales have declined.” 50 Cent responded: “Money Floyd you know I have more Money then you (sic)… you go broke every fight stupid.” Ouch. Maybe it’s for publicity.

Over the weekend, A-listers came out in full support, to pay tribute to comedic actor Eddie Murphy. Sponsored by Spike TV, the event was for a TV special called, “Eddie Murphy: One Night Only.” The evening included tributes by Jamie Foxx, Tyler Perry, Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock and Keenan Ivory Wayans, while his comical colleagues Arsenio Hall, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler and Russell Brand, gave the audience personal stories about working with Eddie. One of the highlights of the evening was Eddie’s performance with Stevie Wonder (the two sang Higher Ground). The special will air November 14th.

Though "R&B Divas" has become a success for TV ONE, TheYBF.com has learned that former Brownstone member and show co-creator, Nicci Gilbert, was given the axe.  Market research the executive producers conducted showed that viewers just didn't connect to Nicci.  In fact, we were told that 95% of those polled said that Nicci was their LEAST favorite diva.  WOMP. Also, an L.A. spinoff is in the works for the show ad that cast will be announced soon.