On May 20 Billboard will celebrate their annual Music Awards from the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas with Grammy Award winning artist and “The Voice” coach Kelly Clarkson who notes that she has some 20 costume changes planned; along with a variety of grand entrances.
Since winning “American Idol” in 2002, Clarkson has had 27 Billboard hits – three of which have reached the number one spot.
Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars lead the list of nominees with 15 each. Post Malone, Imagine Dragons, Drake, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Cardi B have also garnered multiple nominations.
The Billboard Music Award winners are determined not by merit, but by popularity in the form of sales, airplay, streaming, touring, and social engagement.
2018 Billboard Music Award nominees:
Top Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist:
21 Savage
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid
Kodak Black
Billboard Chart Achievement Award:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran
Top Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Female Artist:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Halsey
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
Top Duo or Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
Migos
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton
Taylor Swift
Top Ho 100 Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Cardi B
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Song Sales Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Halsey
Imagine Dragons
Bruno Mars
Charlie Puth
Ed Sheeran
Top Social Artist:
Justin Bieber
BTS
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes
Top Touring Artist:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
U2
Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Khalid
Bruno Mars
SZA
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist:
Khalid
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist:
Beyonce
Rihanna
SZA
Top R&B Tour:
Bruno Mars
Lionel Richie
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Uzi Vert
Migos
Post Malone
Top Rap Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
Top Rap Female Artist:
Bhad Bhabie
Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Tour:
J. Cole
JAY-Z
Kendrick Lamar
Top Country Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Top Country Male Artist:
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Top Country Female Artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Top Country Duo or Group Artist:
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Top Rock Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Linkin Park
Portugal. The Man
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
twenty one pilots
Top Rock Tour:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
U2
Top Latin Artist:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Ozuna
Romeo Santos
Top Dance or Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers
Calvin Harris
Kygo
Marshmello
ODESZA
Top Christian Artist:
Elevation Worship
Hillsong UNITED
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
Travis Greene
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Tamela Mann
Top Billboard 200 Album:
“More Life” by Drake
“DAMN” by Kendrick Lamar
“Stoney” by Post Malone
“÷ (Divide)” by Ed Sheeran
“Reputation” by Taylor Swift
Top Selling Album:
“DAMN” by Kendrick Lamar
“Beautiful Trauma” by P!nk
“÷ (Divide)” by Ed Sheeran
“From Room: Volume 1” by Chris Stapleton
“Reputation” by Taylor Swift
Top Soundtrack:
“Black Panther”
“The Fate of the Furious: The Album”
“The Greatest Showman”
“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix”
”Moana”
Top R&B Album:
“American Teen” by Khalid
“24K Magic” by Bruno Mars
“CTRL” by SZA
“Starboy” by The Weeknd
“17” by XXXTentacion
Top Rap Album:
“More Life” by Drake
“DAMN” by Kendrick Lamar
“Luv is Rage 2” by Lil Uzi Vert
“Culture” by Migos
”Stoney” by Post Malone
Top Country Album:
“Kane Brown” by Kane Brown
“This One’s for You” by Luke Combs
“Life Changes” by Thomas Rhett
“From a Room: Volume1” by Chris Stapleton
“Brett Young” by Brett Young
Top Rock Album:
“Evolve” by Imagine Dragons
“One More Light” by Linkin Park
“Death of a Bachelor” by Panic! at the Disco
“Woodstock” by Portugal. The Man
“Songs of Experience” by U2
Top Latin Album:
“Fenix” by Nicky Jam
“Me Deje Llevar” by Christian Nodal
“Odisea” by Ozuna
“Golden” by Romeo Santos
“El Dorado” by Shakira
Top Dance or Electronic Album:
“AVICI (01)” by Avicii
“Memories…Do Not Open” by The Chainsmokers
“Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1” by Calvin Harris
“Stargazing” by Kygo
“A Moment Apart” by ODESZA
Top Christian Album:
“There is a Cloud” by Elevation Worship
“Wonder” Hillsong UNITED
“Let There Be Light” by Hillsong Worship
“Precious Memories Collection” by Alan Jackson
“Lifer” by MercyMe
Top Gospel Album:
“A Long Way From Sunday” by Anthony Brown & group therAPy
“Crossover: Live fro Music City” by Travis Greene
“You Deserve It” by J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
“Heart. Passion. Pursuit” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Close” by Marvn Sapp
Top Hot 100 Song:
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber
“Humble” by Kendrick Lamar
“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars”
“Rockstar” by Post Maline with 21 Savage
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
Top Streaming Audio Song:
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber
“Humble” by Kendrick Lamar
“XO Tour LLIF3” by Lil Uzi Vert
“Rockstar” by Post Maline with 21 Savage
“Congratulations” by Post Malone with Quavo
Top Streaming Video Song:
“Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” by Cardi B
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber
“Gucci Gang” by Lil Pump
“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
Top Selling Song:
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber
“Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt
“Believer” by Imagine Dragons
“Thunder” by Imagine Dragons
“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
Top Radio Song:
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
“Believer” by Imagine Dragons
“That’s What I Like” by Bruo Mars
“Attention” by Charlie Puth
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
Top Collaboration:
“Havana” by Camila Cabello with Young Thug
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber
“Unforgettabe” by French Montana with Swae Lee
“Rockstar” by Post Malone with 21 Savage
Top R&B Song:
“Redbone” by Childish Gambino
“Wild Thoughts” by DJ Khaled with Rihanna nad Bryson Tiller
“Young Dumb & Broke” by Khalid
“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars
“Finesse” by Bruno Mars with Cardi B.
Top Rap Song:
“Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” by Cardi B.
“Chance” by DJ Khaled with Justin Bieber and Quavo
“I’m the One” by The Rapper and Lil Wayne
“Unforgettabe” by French Montana with Swae Lee
“Humle” by Kendrick Lamar
“Rockstar by Post Maline with 21 Savage
Top Country Song:
“What Ifs” by Kane Brown with Lauren Alaina
“Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt
“Small Town Boy” by Dustin Lynch
“Meant to Be” by Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha
“In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young
Top Rock Song:
“Believer” by Imagine Dragons
“Thunder” by Imagine Dragons
“Heavy” by Linkin Park with Kiiara
“Feel it Still” by Portugal. The Man
“Wish I Knew You” by The Revivalists
Top Latin Song:
“Mi Gente” by J Balvin, Willy William with Beyonce
“Mayores” by Becky G with Bad Bunny
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber
“Felices Los 4” by Maluma
“Escapate Conmigo” by Wisin with Ozuna
Top Dance or Electronic Song:
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
“No Prises” by Cheat Codes with Demi Lovato
“Rockabye” by Clean Bandit with Sean Paul and Ann-Marie
“It Ain’t Me” by Kygo and Selena Gome
“Stay” by Zedd and Alessia Cara
Top Christian Song:
“O Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship
“What a Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worshop
“I’ll Find You” by Lecrae with Tori Kelly
“Even If” by MercyMe
“Old Church Choir” by Zach Williams
Top Gospel Song:
“Trust in You” by Anothy Brown & group therAPy
“You Waited” by Travis Greene
“You Deserve It’ by J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
“Change Me” by Tamela Mann
“I’m Blessed” by Charlie Wilson
feature photo credit: By Prometheus Global Media, LLC – datnewcudi.com (direct link), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17872667