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On Thursday morning, The Today Show shared the finalists for the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. The finalists were revealed as part of a live stream, The List Live, that was streamed across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Access Hollywood’s Zuri Hall along with comedian LaLa Milan were the hosts, also featuring appearances by Anitta, Bretman Rock, Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentry, Chris Sullivan, FINNEAS and Maggie Baird, Jay Pharoah, Jon Batiste, Kandi Burruss, Kyle Richards, Leslie Jordan, Lisa Rinna, Luis Fonsi, the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus, Nick DiGiovanni, Paris Hilton, Rob Gronkowski, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, Tanya Rad and Brad Goreski, Tate McRae, Tika the Iggy, Tim Anderson, Wisdom Kaye and more.
The live stream started with announcements for Top Hot 100 Artist, which includes the biggest artists of the year like DaBaby, Drake, Dua Lipa, Pop Smoke, and The Weeknd, along with the finalists for Top Latin Male Artist and Top Female Rap Artist. From there, the rest of the categories were continuously announced.
Overall, The Weeknd is taking the number one spot with 16 nominations, receiving nods in categories like Top Artist, Top Male Artist, and Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, and Top R&B Album. DaBaby follows with 11 nominations, where he’s been recognized in the Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Rap Artist, and Top Rap Album categories.
Another big contender for the upcoming ceremony is Megan Thee Stallion, who received seven nods for categories like Top Female Artist and Top Rap Female Artist. Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD have also earned a top spot with serious posthumous recognition, with Pop Smoke a finalist in 10 categories and Juice a finalist in seven.
The 2021 Billboard Music Awards will be held Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, airing on NBC. Check out a full list of BBMA finalists below:
Top Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top New Artist
Gabby Barrett
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Pop Smoke
Rod Wave
Top Male Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Dua Lipa
Megan Thee Stallion
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
AC/DC
AJR
BTS
Dan + Shay
Maroon 5
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Post Malone
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Dua Lipa
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
Justin Bieber
BTS
Megan Thee Stallion
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist
Justin Bieber
Lewis Capaldi
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles
The Weeknd
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)
BLACKPINK
BTS
Ariana Grande
SB19
Seventeen
Top R&B Artist
Jhené Aiko
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Doja Cat
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist
Jhené Aiko
Doja Cat
SZA
Top Rap Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Male Artist
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Female Artist
Cardi B
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie
Top Country Artist
Gabby Barrett
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Male Artist
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist
Gabby Barrett
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Top Rock Artist
AC/DC
AJR
Five Finger Death Punch
Machine Gun Kelly
twenty one pilots
Top Latin Artist
Anuel AA
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny
Ozuna
J Balvin
Top Latin Female Artist
Becky G
Karol G
Rosalía
Top Latin Duo/Group
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Eslabón Armado
Los Dos Carnales
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
The Chainsmokers
Kygo
Lady Gaga
Marshmello
Surf Mesa
Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
Elevation Worship
For KING & COUNTRY
Carrie Underwood
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Maverick City Music
Kanye West
Top Billboard 200 Album
Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die
Lil Baby, My Turn
Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon
Taylor Swift, Folklore
The Weeknd, After Hours
Top R&B Album
Jhené Aiko, Chilombo
Chris Brown & Young Thug, Slime & B
Doja Cat, Hot Pink
Kehlani, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t
The Weeknd, After Hours
Top Rap Album
DaBaby, Blame It On the Baby
Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die
Lil Baby, My Turn
Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake
Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon
Top Country Album
Gabby Barrett, Goldmine
Sam Hunt, Southside
Chris Stapleton, Starting Over
Carrie Underwood, My Gift
Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
Top Rock Album
AC/DC, Power Up
Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts
Glass Animals, Dreamland
Machine Gun Kelly, Tickets to My Downfall
Bruce Springsteen, Letter to You
Top Latin Album
Anuel AA, Emmanuel
Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo
Bad Bunny, Las que no iban a salir
Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
J Balvin, Colores
Top Dance/Electronic Album
DJ Snake, Carte Blanche
Gryffin, Gravity
Kygo, Golden Hour
Lady Gaga, Chromatica
Kylie Minogue, Disco
Top Christian Album
Bethel Music, Peace
Elevation Worship, Grave Into Gardens
Carrie Underwood, My Gift
We The Kingdom, Holy Water
Zach Williams, Rescue Story
Top Gospel Album
Koryn Hawthorne, I AM
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Royalty: Live at the Ryman
Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1
Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2
Kierra Sheard, Kierra
Top Hot 100 Song
24kGoldn f/ Iann Dior “Mood”
Gabby Barrett f/ Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby f/ Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Streaming Song
Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby f/ Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
Future f/ Drake “Life Is Good”
Jack Harlow f/ DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne “Whats Poppin”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Selling Song
Gabby Barrett f/ Charlie Puth “I Hope”
BTS “Dynamite”
Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Radio Song
Gabby Barrett f/ Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now”
Harry Styles “Adore You”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)
24kGoldn f/ Iann Dior “Mood”
Gabby Barrett f/ Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby f/ Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
Jack Harlow f/ DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne “Whats Poppin”
Top R&B Song
Jhené Aiko f/ H.E.R. “B.S.”
Justin Bieber f/ Quavo “Intentions”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat “Say So”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Rap Song
24kGoldn f/ Iann Dior “Mood”
Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby f/ Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
Jack Harlow f/ DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne “Whats Poppin”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
Top Country Song
Jason Aldean “Got What I Got”
Gabby Barrett “I Hope”
Lee Brice “One of Them Girls”
Morgan Wallen “Chasin’ You”
Morgan Wallen “More Than My Hometown”
Top Rock Song
AJR “Bang!”
All Time Low f/ Blackbear “Monsters”
Glass Animals “Heat Waves”
Machine Gun Kelly f/ Blackbear “My Ex’s Best Friend”
Twenty One Pilots “Level of Concern”
Top Latin Song
Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez “Dákiti”
Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)”
Maluma & The Weeknd “Hawái”
Ozuna, Karol G, and Myke Towers “Caramelo”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Lady Gaga “Stupid Love”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain on Me”
SAINt JHN “Roses (Imanbek Remix)”
Surf Mesa f/ Emilee “ily (i love you baby)”
Topic & A7S “Breaking Me”
Top Christian Song
Elevation Worship f/ Brandon Lake “Graves Into Gardens”
For KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin, and Tori Kelly “Together”
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, and Elevation Worship “The Blessing (Live)”
Tauren Wells f/ Jenn Johnson “Famous For (I Believe)”
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton “There Was Jesus”
Top Gospel Song
Koryn Hawthorne “Speak to Me”
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music “Movin’ On”
Marvin Sapp “Thank You for It All”
Tye Tribbett “We Gon’ Be Alright”
Kanye West f/ Travis Scott “Wash Us in the Blood”
