♪ nah he selling cars it'd be him and lil rome i'm just tryna offset what he was saying on my phone ♪ ♪ nowadays don't need shovels to bury you pointing fingers like pallbearers how they carry you ♪ ♪ so much for death before dishonor might as well have a robe and gavel like your honor ♪ ♪ i just sit and wonder play it by the numbers when you ride like lightning then you crash like thunder ♪ ♪ seen your baby mama she ain't even know if she should speak ♪ ♪ what the is there to say knowing her king's now weak saying ♪ ♪ sorry mister i got to come home ♪ ♪ sorry mister i'm trying to come home ♪ ♪ sorry man hey i got to come home ♪ ♪ let's talk real ♪ let's be real ♪

i bet the man inside his mirror doesn't stare back ♪ ♪ break your heart when the man you call your brother be the same one that setting in motion all them undercover ♪ ♪ called my mom mother was at my graduation when i signed my record deal you was my motivation ♪ ♪ from great friends now it's no affiliation divided by the time he was facing once he told me that ♪ ♪ sorry i'm tryna come home sorry there's clicking on the phone because i got to get home ♪ ♪ yeah [ cheers and applause ]

tonight on "nightline" -- extreme test of faith. they call it a sacred rite straight from scripture what do snakes have to do with freedom? we go inside the service there is a hiss in the sermon. watch out, what doesn't heal you could kill? >> church say it -- amen! >> y'all having a good time? >> don't stop the party. the stars are out counting down to one of the biggest music awards in america. we have exclusive access to mr. worldwide himself. pit bull and a special tlc

reunion performance you just can't miss. >> and "people" magazine announces its sexiest man alive is -- adam levine. boy has he changed. he may have the moves like jagger now. ♪ ♪ ♪ like jagger >> check out this yearboo

good evening. thank you for joining us. how far would you go for your faith. tonight over 100 churches stand in defiance of local laws banning the use of something shocking from their services. poisonous serpents. snakes on a pulpit. christians say they're true believers and vipers are as

vital to the religion as the bible itself. the tradition dates back more than a century. law makers aren't so sure it should survive. i headed down south for our series "faith matters." >> reporter: what pastor jamie kutz is doing with the snake is either a christian ritual or criminal conduct depending on who you ask? ♪ ♪ >> he is a new preacher! >> reporter: in tiny churches in rural appalachia what began generations ago as an expression of faith is turning into a fight over religious freedom in america. they believe they are called by god to handle venomous serpents and comes from a passage straight from the bible which they take literally. they pick up serpents. if they drink any deadly poison it will not hurt them. in this small church of fervent

believers we saw the pastors lay hand and healing prayer and dance with collected adrenaline. pastor andrew hamlin appears almost possessed by the holy spirit as he handles poisonous snakes. even if bitten they refuse medical treatment and rely instead on prayer for healing. even speaking in tongues. >> where is the cottonmouth at. >> reporter: local authorities see it as a reckless dangerous menace to public safety that has taken lives and will take other. >> he admit heed had snakes. took us to the church. officers went in. picked the snakes up out of his snake room. and, seized them. >> reporter: earlier this month, the state of tennessee seized 50 poise this stakes from pastor hamlin and cited him for illegally possessing them. >> i'men the united states of america. i have a constitutional right as

a -- a right-minded adult. that if i believe so strongly that the spirit of god moves on me, to take a serpents, that i should have my constitutional right to do it. rancheros h >> reporter: how is handling a snake a religious expression? >> just the same way to me, taking up serpents and our religious ceremonies is like -- the catholic who used wine in their communion on sundays. >> reporter: using snakes during services is a long-standing tradition. one that took root here more than a century ago. his own grandfather handled serpents as a preacher as did his father. four generations now including his grown son? kutz mentored hamlin in kentucky now he lives and preaches over the border in tennessee which has stricter laws against even owning deadly snakes. >> they come right into the house of god and just rip them away.

there would be no different if they come in and ripped your bible out of first baptist. >> reporter: in court last week, hamlin entered to applause from supporters all wearing red as he pled not guilty to possession of dangerous wildlife. >> if god moves on me and i feel led by the holy guest to reach my arm into a box of rattlesnakes i should have my religious right to do that. >> reporter: the district attorney general says the law applies to everyone and doesn't discriminate based on faith. >> it's not a religion issue. it is an issue of possessing animals that tennessee law says you are not allowed to possess them. >> reporter: because it is dangerous to other people, right, right? >> because of the nature of the animal. >> it isse e isses eimated 125 e poisonous snakes in the u.s., clustered in the south. both preachers offered a rare glimpse inside the pent koacost

tradition. after it aired, authorities cracked down. >> could be an argument you are going after the case because it came a television case. >> it is a violation of the law. lots of people speed. if you pull up to a police car and race your engine and take off in extreme speed, you should expect to get caught. >> reporter: so that was tantamount to taunting law enforcement? but the prosecutor says people began complaining once they saw what was going on inside the homes and houses of worship in their neighborhood. afraid snakes might get loose. >> the list goes on and on. for qualification that you have to meet to possess the species. and, you know -- obviously -- a small church building with, a locked door doesn't qualify. >> oh, my golly. please tell me they're all in cages. >> reporter: he has a permit to keep his 20 or so snakes. he even brought us to the backyard snake shack to show us how he box up serpents before

the service. >> this is the biggest rattle snake we have left. >> reporter: the tennessee law banning ownership was passed in 1947, after five worshippers were killed over the course of two years. pastor kutz had a parishioner die in 1995 after refusing anti-venom following a rattlesnake bite. no charges were filed in kentucky. >> if someone gets bitten my church. they're not immediate family -- i will call 911. have the paramedics come out. let that person tell them i d t don't want medical attention. he has been bitten nine times. each time he refused medical attention. >> rattle take here. >> reporter: the worst time he says when a timber rattler bit his middle finger. >> the most panein i ever felt. it was rotten. something was going on. i didn't know. that much bone was exposed before it broke off.

not so much as an advil. not so much as an aspirin? >> no. >> reporter: why keep it? >> my wife told me when this broke off in the yar, she said i want to keep this. i said, why would someone keep that? she said, i will always have a piece of you no matter where you go. ♪ >> reporter: very nice. you are the rock-a-billy preacher who charms snakes. >> i don't charm them. the lord does. we'll go with the rock-a-billy teacher. you don't think you are taking the bible out of context or too literally. >> no, ma'am. not at all. that's what god taught us, god taught me to be right. i am not telling people. if some body stands up says you are hell bound and not part of us. >> reporter: are you a cult? >> no, we are not a cult. we are christians. just like any other christian on the face of the earth. >> reporter: do you see this as

religious persecution? >> i do. in a form it is religious persecution. i am not asking no one to agree, or believe like me. i have never told anybody they have to take up serpents to go to heaven. or take up serpents to be a christian. >> reporter: they live by a stricter moral code than most. >> holy ghost anin't there no more. >> reporter: if their way of life and the way they choose to worship sets them apart they believe it brings them closer to god. >> it is an inner peace. don't think of nothing else. you have a love for everybody. no ill feelings. nothing in your mind, exempt, you know, god has honored me to let me feel his spirit. >> reporter: some people feel that is the press ns ence of go. some think it is a biochemical reaction your body is having to fear, to danger, to life and death situations. >> if the bible told me to jump

out of the air plan i woue i wo. >> half supporting the argument for public safety. the rest telling her to keep off the altar. >> reporter: the other half of the backlash is people saying you are over zealous. grandstanding to try to make a case. >> correct. and we feel we are just enforcing the law. just trying to keep the public safe. and make sure that the law is followed. >> reporter: do you see yourself handling snakes in the future? >> honey, i see myself as long as there is breath in my body taking up serpents. i have come too far. i can't back down on it. i have seen too many miracles happen in churches. >> reporter: for his sect, god's law trumps man's law. next month, hamlin will half a chance to make his case in the fundamental struggle between church and state in of a tennessee courtroom. >> the lord will provide. >> amen. >> amen. >> so what do you think? is snake handling a religious right or safety issue?

tweet us at "nightline." up next, the amas are around the corner. host pit bull gives us an exclusive look behind the scenes. and adam levine has moves like jagger and turns out the body like "people" magazine any newest sexiest man alive. ♪ i'll take it from here

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nobody works harder or plays harder than pit bull. with his multimillion dollar empire and nonstop partying, he is one of the hottest entertainers turned moguls ever. and on sunday, the cuban-american sensation will continue his quest for nothing short of world domination. as the host of america's ultimate music awards show. complete with reunion you won't want to miss.

abc's cecelia vega reunited with hi this top dog for a look at his whirlwind world. >> reporter: the stage is set and the red carpet is out as workers race to put the finishing touches on sunday night's "american music award" i am getting a vip all access exclusive tour courtesy of pit bull. just try to keep up. this is backstage? >> yeah, i walk these hauls many times. >> reporter: in a matter of days this is where the a list of the a list will be rubbing shoulders. here behind the scenes in this maze of long hallways and stairs. passing down the hallway of justin bieber, miley cyrus. >> to be here, see jennifer walking up. >> that's the one you want to see. >> what i work hard for all these years. >> j-lo. >> jimmy: >> reporter: i have been on the

pit bull party train before, spending a crazy day this summer with mr. 305, jetted between concerts. opened a school in miami and basically plotted global domination. through his music and endorsement empire. now, we meet again. and this time, mr. worldwide whose real name is armando perez has another title to add to the list. host. >> american music award. >> did you say no the first time around. >> reporter: he says he came around to the idea for the son of cuban immigrants who transformed from a rapper on the rough streets of miami to an international sensation, the tv hosting gig is a new thing. staying on message. sticking to the script. maybe not the strongest suit for a guy noend fknown for his partd wild ways. >> hope you have the delay button ready. we are going to have fun. >> reporter: they will need a men out delay.

how will they keep you on track? >> hope they have a lot of subtitles. they will have to catch up. >> reporter: a bilingual broadcast. >> i am bilingual, single and ready to single. by the way. >> you know my husband is a cop. >> he is a great man. those guys are into a lot of kinky things. >> we can't use any of this. >> of course you can use that. that's great b roll. >> my producer is cut it short. >> wow, this is cool. does this make you nervous at all, just seeing all of this. you can't stop it. this train has taken off. >> i tried to tell you. i am under the train. >> the first time you hosted anything like this? >> first time i have, ever been called a host. >> reporter: while other award ceremonies might be known for the pomp and circumstance. at the amas, it's the fans who choose the winners, voting online or for the first time on twitter. this show is all about the music and the star power.

like in 1986, when just about every superstar took the stage to sing "we are the world." ♪ we are the world we are the children ♪ >> reporter: and this add am lambert shocker in 2009, sim la ulated sex and all. last year, the duo nobody could touch, mc hammer and psy. sure to be headlines following sun day's show. let's say, miley cyrus who twerked to the vmas will take the stage at the amas, so will lady gaga, justin timberlake, katy perry, jlo, rihanna. any slips? controversies? everybody is like, is miley going to twerking. i am from miami, bootie shaking, when you have an american sweetheart, does twerking.

she is finding herself. god bless her. do your thing. he is friend with a listers in the front three rows. made hit songs with them. can you make an introduction. >> hi, marc. >> nice to meet you. nice to meet you. i love your music. of all the acts who will fill the seats there is one pit bull really wants to see. >> that's what i am looking forward to? >> the group you want to see. >> a whole lot. >> reporter: tlc one of the top selling female groups of all time. their sound of the 90s, no scrubs will be back in the spotlight. ♪ ♪ we're happy to be back, especially it was 20 years ago last time we did this one. >> reporter: performing with a special guest. but they're tight-lipped about who it is. >> a girl. pretty much it. she is short like us. >> reporter: who is the money ticket? who is winning? >> good question. i think just to be here will be

taking it home. all of us. just to get here. that's what it is about. that's where the respect comes from. >> reporter: with pit bull here it promises to be one nonstop party. >> i can't stop this if i want. >> reporter: cecelia vega in los angeles. >> catch american music awards here on abc sunday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern. up next could this pimply teen really be the sexiest man alive? stay with us. jim's doctor recommended xarelto®. like warfarin, xarelto® is proven effective to reduce afib-related stroke risk. but xarelto® is the first and only once-a-day prescription blood thinner for patients with afib not caused by a heart valve problem. that doesn't require routine blood monitoring. so jim's not tied to that monitoring routine. [ gps ] proceed to the designated route. not today. [ male announcer ] for patients currently well managed on warfarin, there is limited information on how xarelto® and warfarin compare

in reducing the risk of stroke. xarelto® is just one pill a day taken with the evening meal. plus, with no known dietary restrictions, jim can eat the healthy foods he likes. do not stop taking xarelto®, rivaroxaban, without talking to the doctor who prescribes it as this may increase the risk of having a stroke. get help right away if you develop any symptoms like bleeding, unusual bruising, or tingling. you may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take xarelto® with aspirin products, nsaids or blood thinners. talk to your doctor before taking xarelto® if you have abnormal bleeding. xarelto® can cause bleeding, which can be serious, and rarely may lead to death. you are likely to bruise more easily on xarelto® and it may take longer for bleeding to stop. tell your doctors you are taking xarelto® before any planned medical or dental procedures. before starting xarelto®, tell your doctor about any conditions such as kidney, liver, or bleeding problems. xarelto® is not for patients with artificial heart valves. jim changed his routine. ask your doctor about xarelto®. once a day xarelto® means no regular blood monitoring --

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getting sexiy en t yy in to "feed frenzy." you have come a long way, baby. in case you need proof we all go through an awkward phase, check out the yearbook photos. guess who? people magazine's newest sexiest man alive. adam levine. on "the voice" he sets fans hearts racing with confident swaggers. and moves like jagger. i got the moves like jagger. the moves, moves like jagger. ♪ baby it's hard