This year's Billboard Music Awards is set to take place in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018 with a live broadcast of the show. Voice judge and Grammy award winner Kelly Clarkson is set to host the awards. There is already talk about what's going to happen during some of the performances, news centered around the icon award, and shock over the top contenders for this year's nominations. Some of the big awards of the night include Top Artist, Top New Artist, and the Billboard Chart Achievement Award. Voting for select categories, such as Top Social Artist, opens May 14, 2018.
Surprising performances
Ariana Grande dropped her latest single "No Tears Left to Cry" in April, the first song the singer released since the Manchester Arena bombing. Grande has since performed the song live at Coachella and on "Jimmy Fallon," and will be opening the "BBMAs" with the melodic masterpiece later this month. Shawn Mendes, who has been making waves with his latest songs and album quickly approaching, is also set to perform during the show. Camila Cabello recently surprised her fans by taking her popular single "Never Be the Same" and putting a new spin on it by creating a remix with country singer Kane Brown. Cabello is certain to entertain fans and critics again with her performance at this year's show.
Other performers include host Kelly Clarkson, Dua Lipa, and John Legend.
The big performance of the night is sure to be K-pop band BTS. They will be debuting their new single from their new album, "Love Yourself: Tear," and using the "BBMAs" as a platform for their return. The band recently announced a worldwide tour later this year, with a fourth show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles being added due to high demand and two Newark, New Jersey shows selling out in just minutes.
The group won the award for Top Social Artist last year and is nominated again, and will be competing against Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, and Justin Bieber.
Top nominees
The men of the music industry seem to be taking over this year's awards with Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, and Bruno Mars leading with 15 nominations each.
Post Malone is next in line with 12 nominations, followed by Imagine Dragons with 11. According to Billboard, Drake has 9 nominations while Justin Bieber and Cardi B both have 8, making Cardi B the highest-nominated female at this year's awards. Taylor Swift is the next female to beat with a total of 5 nominations, including Top Artist.
Monday, May 7, Dick Clark Productions and NBC announced that Janet Jackson will be receiving the prestigious Icon Award. Other recipients include Cher, Celine Dion, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, and Jennifer Lopez. Jackson is also scheduled to give her first live performance in nine years at this year's show.
Watch it live
Tune in Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 8 PM ET on NBC to see all the performances and find out who takes home the top awards.
