The 2012 Billboard Music Awards kicks off Sunday night live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 6:30 p.m. EST with a red carpet to remember. Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber, The Wanted, LMFAO and more will be in attendance. This year, the Billboard Music Awards will remember fallen legends Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Adam MCA Yauch.

Billboard announced that the 2012 Billboard Music Awards will feature special tributes to the three deceased musicians.

I was at the Grammys, and what a curveball they were thrown when Whitney passed away [the day before the show], Billboard Music Awards co-executive producer Richard Beckman told Billboard.com. They did a good job with Jennifer Hudson, but obviously we had a bit more time, so we wanted to do something honoring such a remarkable performer. We have a lovely segment with a full orchestra and John Legend doing 'The Greatest Love of All' -- his voice is just smashing -- and Whitney's last co-star [in the movie 'Sparkle'], Jordin Sparks, doing 'I Will Always Love You.'

There was reportedly a heated issue over who will accept Houston's award, either Bobbi Kristina or sister-in-law Pat Houston; but it seems as if a decision has been made. Bobbi Kristina, Whitney's daughter, will accept the Millennium Award for her mother, which we created last year for Beyonce -- that's probably the highest tribute we could pay, said Beckman

We're going to do something for Adam, and for Donna too -- given that it only happened yesterday, there's not a lot of room to get too creative, but they're both great influences in music and they deserve to be respected.

Even new popular acts of today will hit the stage Sunday, including Call Me Maybe singer Carly Rae Jepsen.

I saw the rehearsal yesterday with Carly Rae Jepsen, Beckman told Billboard. When we booked her no one really knew her name, and now 'Call Me Maybe' is No. 4 on [the Billboard Hot 100] and No. 1 on iTunes, and her performance is terrific, really energetic.

More seasoned performers will, of course, leave their mark. Usher's a hell of a performer, he's a triple threat, I've worked with him on Fashion Rocks and Movies Rock. There are kicka-- performances from Bieber and Katy Perry and LMFAO, and the wonderful collaboration with Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys. The whole show is populated with great performances. Katy Perry will perform her new song Wide Awake.

What better stage for artists to showcase their work and reach an audience of fans that spans generations? The 2012 Billboard Music Awards has quite the history behind it.

Billboard is an incredibly powerful brand -- 118 years old, still the bible of the industry -- and I wanted to create an event that celebrates that and articulates that and enables us to grow to a place where the product we put onstage, which is seen in 120 countries this year by millions of people, really enhances and empowers the brand. I'm not so much focused on how year two can be better than year one -- I'm more concerned with 10 years and how we can narrow the gap with the Grammys, Beckman added.

The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will air live on Sunday, May 20, on ABC at 8:00 p.m. EST. View a live stream of the red carpet and backstage access with Downtown Julie Brown below, starting at 6:30 p.m. Join the conversation with Downtown Julie Brown via UStream's social stream or by tweeting questions to @Billboard with the hashtag #BBMA.

Click here to see a full list of nominees.

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