Sam Hunt, Chris Stapleton Among Big 2018 Billboard Music Awards Nominees
Sam Hunt and Chris Stapleton are among the most-nominated artists at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards. Billboard announced the awards show's nominees on Tuesday morning (April 17).
Both Hunt and Stapleton received five 2018 BBMAs nods. In addition to being nominated in the categories of Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album, Stapleton is nominated in the all-genre Top Selling Album and Top Billboard 200 Artist categories. Hunt, meanwhile, is nominated for Top Country Artist and Top Country Male Artist, as well as for Top Country Song and the all-genre Top Selling Song and Billboard Chart Achievement Award.
A complete list of the country nominees at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards is below. In addition to the aforementioned all-genre nominations and those nominated in the country categories, Alan Jackson's Precious Memories Collection received a nod for Top Christian Album, and country-turned-pop superstar Taylor Swift is nominated for the all-genre Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Selling Album.
Nominees for the Billboard Music Awards are determined through, per Billboard, album and digital song sales, radio airplay and streaming, touring, social engagement and key interactions with music fans. Billboard and its data partners track all of the factors over the 12-month period prior to the nominations announcement.
The 2018 Billboard Music Awards will take place on May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.; the show will air on NBC at 8PM ET. Kelly Clarkson will be hosting the ceremony.
2018 Billboard Music Awards: Country Nominees List
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 / Group Artist
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Tour
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Top Country Album
Kane Brown, Kane Brown
Luke Combs, This One’s for You
Thomas Rhett, Life Changes
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1
Brett Young, Brett Young
Top Country Song
Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina, “What Ifs”
Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”
Dustin Lynch, “Small Town Boy”
Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”
Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know”
Top Christian Album
Elevation Worship, There Is a Cloud
Hillsong United, Wonder
Hillsong Worship, Let There Be Light
Alan Jackson, Precious Memories Collection
MercyMe, Lifer
Billboard Chart Achievement Award
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton
Taylor Swift
Top Selling Album
Kendrick Lamar, Damn
Pink, Beautiful Trauma
Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Divide)
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1
Taylor Swift, Reputation
Top Selling Song
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, "Despacito"
Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”
Imagine Dragons, “Believer”
Imagine Dragons, “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran, “Perfect”