Billboard Award 2019 nominations announced: Rapper Cardi B leads the pack with 21 nominations, including “Top Artist”

By Erin Caine

Lifestyle Editor

Until very recently, male artists—such as Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and The Weeknd—have typically been the ones to snag the most nominations for the Billboard Music Awards.

Rapper Cardi B, however, put that unspoken tradition to rest this year with a whopping 21 nominations. That’s just one shy of the record Drake and The Chainsmokers both set in 2017.

Her nominations include “Top Artist,” “Top Rap Artist,” and “Top Billboard 200 Album” for her debut album from 2018, “Invasion of Privacy.”

Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield called the album “lavishly emotional, intimately personal, [and] wildly funny” while Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork said that “Cardi B’s remarkable debut places her, without a doubt, in the pantheon of great rappers.”

The ceremony will take place May 1, hosted by Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson is also set to perform on the Billboard stage, along with Khalid, Panic! at the Disco, and Lauren Daigle.

Daigle took to Twitter to express her excitement: “It’s incredibly satisfying and unbelievably inspiring to see how everyone is connecting with [third studio album] ‘Look Up Child.’ And getting to perform at the BBMAs?? That’s crazy!! All the sweeter being able to share this with all of you.”

Many are buzzing about the fact that popular K-Pop group, BTS, will be performing, as well, sharing the stage with singer Halsey.

They’ll be performing their collaboration song, “Boy with Luv,” live for the first time. The video for the song was released earlier in April, and it became the fastest video to reach 100 million views on YouTube.

NBC announced Apr. 11 that pop icon Mariah Carey will be honored with Billboard’s “Icon Award” this year. Other recipients of the award include such enduring industry legends as Janet Jackson, Cher, Prince, and Stevie Wonder.

May 1 promises to be a night of memorable performances, with plenty of glitz and glam to spare.

Clarkson tweeted out, “It’s going to be a great night, y’all.”

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