The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch are the leading nominees for this year’s American Music Awards, scoring eight nods each. Both will compete for artist of the year against Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Taylor Swift.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is the next leading nominee with five, including for new artist of the year. Other contenders include Ricch, Lewis Capaldi, Doja Cat, DaBaby and Lil Baby.
Swift, Bieber, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, DaBaby and Doja Cat follow with four nominations each. Swift has the chance to extend her lead as the most awarded artist in AMA history – she already has 29 wins.
Billie Eilish, an awards favorite since her sweeping wins at the Grammy Awards, scored two nominations, for favorite alternative rock artist and favorite social artist, while Kanye West earned a nomination for favorite contemporary inspirational artist. If he wins, it would be his first AMA win in 12 years.
Singers Dan + Shay earned three nominations, including for favorite country duo or group, where they’re up against Florida Georgia Line and Old Dominion.
British star Harry Styles was nominated in two categories- International Male Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year for the hit song, ‘Watermelon Sugar.’ His chart-topping 2019 album, ‘Fine Line’ was nominated for favorite album in the pop/rock category, and faces stiff competition from Swift’s ‘Folklore’ and The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours.’
This year’s ceremony will be held at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater and will be broadcast live on US network, ABC on November 22.