Usher leads the pack of nominees for the 2012 Soul Train Awards with five nominations, including Album of the Year for ‘Looking 4 Myself.’ Following behind Usher is R&B songbird Estelle with three nods including Song of the Year (‘Thank You’).

R. Kelly also nabbed two mentions and received the unique honor of being the most-nominated artist in the history of the Soul Train Awards. According to Wikipedia, Kels has won a total of six Soul Train honors since the award show’s inception in 1999, and has been honored with both the prestigious Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder Awards.

Other multiple nominees include Nas, Trey Songz and John Legend. In addition, the late Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse both received posthumous nominations for Best Gospel/Inspirational Performance and Best International Performance, respectively.

Veteran R&B group New Edition will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, as well. Celebrity presenters and slated live performances will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

The Soul Train Awards will be taped at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Nov. 8 and will air on BET and Centric on Nov. 25 at 9PM ET. Actor-comedian Cedric the Entertainer will host the festivities.

2012 Soul Train Awards Nominees List:

Best New Artist

Elle Varner

Emeli Sande

J. Cole

Luke James

Robert Glasper

Centric Award

Daley

Esperanza Spalding

Gary Clark Jr.

Leah LaBelle

Santigold

Best Gospel/Inspirational Performance

BeBe Winans, ‘America America’

Fred Hammond, ‘I Feel Good’

Marvin Sapp, ‘My Testimony’

Mary Mary, ‘Go Get It’

Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks, ‘Celebrate’

Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year

2 Chainz, ‘No Lie’ Feat. Drake

Wale, ‘Lotus Flower Bomb’ Feat. Miguel

Nas, ‘Daughters’

Kanye West, ‘Mercy’ Feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz

Young Jeezy, ‘Leave You Alone’ Feat. Ne-Yo

Best R&B/Soul Female Artist

Beyonce

Estelle

Keyshia Cole

Mary J. Blige

Melanie Fiona

Best R&B/Soul Male Artist

Miguel

Robin Thicke

Trey Songz

Tyrese

Usher

Album of the Year

‘The One,’ Eric Benet

‘Channel Orange,’ Frank Ocean

‘Life Is Good,’ Nas

‘Write Me Back,’ R. Kelly

‘Looking 4 Myself,’ Usher

Song of the Year

Estelle, ‘Thank You’

John Legend, ‘Tonight (Best You Ever Had)’ Feat. Ludacris

Trey Songz, ‘Heart Attack’

Tyrese, ‘Stay’

Usher, ‘Climax’

Wale, ‘Lotus Flower Bomb’ Feat. Miguel

The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award

‘Thank You,’ Estelle (Writers: Arden Altino, Akene “The Champ” Dunkley, Jerry Duplessis, Doug F. Edwards, Thomas D. Richardson, Aliaune Thiam)

‘Tonight (Best You Ever Had),’ John Legend feat. Ludacris (Writers: Allen Arthur, Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges, Keith Justice, Miguel Pimentel “Miguel”, Clayton Reilly, John Stephens)

‘Daughters,’ Nas (Writers: Nasir Jones, Ernest D. Wilson, Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer, Paul Leka)

‘Share My Love,’ R. Kelly (Writer: Robert Kelly)

‘Climax,’ Usher (Writers: Usher Raymond IV, Sean “Redd Stylez” Fenton, Thomas “Diplo” Pentz, Ariel Rechtshaid)

Best Dance Performance

Beyonce, ‘Love On Top’

Chris Brown, ‘Turn Up The Music’

Nicki Minaj, ‘Starships’

Rihanna, ‘Where Have You Been’

Usher, ‘Scream’

CentricTV.com awards:

CENTRICTV.com Best Caribbean Performance

Cover Drive, ‘Bajan Style’

Damien “Junior Gong” Marley, ‘SuperHeavy’

Jimmy Cliff, ‘Rebirth’

Matisyahu, ‘Spark Seeker’

Sean Paul, ‘Tomahawk Technique’

CENTRICTV.com Best International Performance

Amy Winehouse, ‘Our Day Will Come’

Daley, ‘Alone Together’ Feat. Marsha Ambrosius

Emeli Sande, ‘Next To Me’

Estelle, ‘Thank You’

Gotye, ‘Somebody (That I Used To Know)’ Feat. Kimbra

Rebecca Ferguson, ‘Nothing’s Real But Love’

CENTRICTV.com Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group

Chris Botti, ‘Impressions
’

Kenny Garrett, ‘Seeds From The Underground’

Melody Gardot, ‘The Absence’

The Robert Glasper Experiment, ‘Black Radio’

Tony Bennett, ‘Isn’t It Romantic’

CENTRICTV.com Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group

Ben Tankard, ‘Full Tank’

Brian Culbertson, ‘DREAMS’

Cassandra Wilson, ‘Another Country’

Esperanza Spalding, ‘Radio Music Society’

Peter White, ‘Here We Go’

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