Mariah Carey, 50 Cent and Green Day are the leading finalists in the race for the 2005 Billboard Music Awards. Held on Dec. 6 at the Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, the Billboard Awards will be hosted by the Hip-Hop legend LL Cool J. I'm told the event will feature performances Gwen Stefani, Daddy Yankee and Pharrell.

My main man 50 is a finalist in eight categories, followed by Carey with seven and Green Day with six. All three will vie for artist of the year and album of the year for "The Massacre," "The Emancipation of Mimi" and "American Idiot," respectively. The other album of the year finalist is Eminem's "Encore," while Kelly Clarkson is the fourth artist of the year finalist.

According to Billboard, Green Day is also a finalist for group of the year, along with the Black Eyed Peas, Destiny's Child and the Killers. In the new artist of the year category, the finalists are Stefani, Fantasia, the Game and Rob Thomas.

Other multiple-award finalists are Fantasia, the Game and Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz (four), Stefani, Clarkson, Eminem, the Killers and Destiny's Child (three) and Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, Mario, Ciara, Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails (two). You can get a complete list of the nominees here.

No time for funnies as I'm about to hop on the plane. I'll holla when I touch down.

BTW, what's going on with the Williams sisters? One is apparently dating a married man, while the other is in the studio trying to cut an album? Four words: You can't be serious.

Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Mariah, 50-Cent Lead Billboard Music Awards Finalists