| Subcategory | Winner | Nominees |
| Pop/Rock Categories |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | John Cougar
Rick Springfield | Paul McCartney |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist | Olivia Newton-John | Stevie Nicks
Diana Ross |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Daryl Hall & John Oates | Fleetwood Mac
The J. Geils Band |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Album | Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson | Mirage – Fleetwood Mac
Escape – Journey |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Song | "Truly" – Lionel Richie | "Ebony and Ivory" – Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
"Eye of the Tiger" – Survivor |
| Soul/R&B Categories |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist | Lionel Richie | Rick James
Stevie Wonder |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist | Diana Ross | Aretha Franklin
Evelyn King |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Kool & The Gang | The Gap Band
The Time |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Album | Jump to It – Aretha Franklin | Throwin' Down – Rick James
Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I – Stevie Wonder |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Song | "Sexual Healing" – Marvin Gaye | "Jump to It" – Aretha Franklin
"Love Come Down" – Evelyn King |
| Country Categories |
| Favorite Country Male Artist | Kenny Rogers | Charley Pride
Conway Twitty |
| Favorite Country Female Artist | Barbara Mandrell | Emmylou Harris
Sylvia |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group | Alabama | The Oak Ridge Boys
Statler Brothers |
| Favorite Country Album | Always on My Mind – Willie Nelson | Mountain Music – Alabama
Fancy Free – The Oak Ridge Boys |
| Favorite Country Song | "Love Will Turn You Around" – Kenny Rogers | "Bobbie Sue" – The Oak Ridge Boys
"Nobody" – Sylvia |
| Merit |
| Kenny Rogers |
