Adele Versus Rihanna At Billboard Music Awards 2012

British songstress Adele will do battle with R&B sensation Rihanna at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 20, 2012. The 'Rolling in the Deep' singer leads the nominations with 18 including 'Top Artist', 'Top Female Artist' and 'Top Billboard 200 Artist'.

It's been a phenomenal year for the singer, who is the favorite to take home a host of other awards including Top Single and Top Album. Her rival Rihanna is up for thirteen awards, after leading the pack in 2011 with 18 nominations. Elsewhere, Lady GaGa and Lil Wayne are each nominated in 10 categories, while Katy Perry also finds herself vying for the top prizes. This year's Top New Artist gong is shaping up to be an interesting affair, with Foster The People, Scotty Mccreery, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean and BAD MEETS EVIL all in with a realistic chance. Last year's ceremony saw rapper Eminem take home the night's biggest prizes for 'Top Artist' and 'Top Album', while live performances came from Nicki Minaj and Britney Spears who performed 'Super Bass' and 'Till the World Ends', and from Neil Diamond who performed 'Sweet Caroline'.

The night was also noted as the event in which Justin Bieber went public with Selena Gomez, kissing her in front of the cameras.