UMG Nashville artists Sam Hunt and Chris Stapleton have garnered the most country nominations for the upcoming Billboard Music Awards, as the nominations were announced this morning at billboard.com.
Sam Hunt was nominated for five honors, including the all-genre Billboard Chart Achievement Award, all-genre Top Selling Song (“Body Like A Back Road”), as well as Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Song (“Body Like A Back Road”).
Chris Stapleton was also nominated for five honors, including the all-genre Top Selling Album (From A Room: Vol. 1), Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Album (From A Room: Vol. 1).
Sony Music Nashville’s Kane Brown was nominated for three honors, including Top Country Artist, Top Country Song (“What Ifs,” ft. Lauren Alaina), and Top Country Album (Kane Brown).
Big Machine Label Group’s Thomas Rhett was nominated for three honors, including Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Album (Life Changes). Fellow BMLG duo Florida Georgia Line garnered three nominations for Top Country Tour, Top Country Duo/Group Artist, and Top Country Song (“Meant To Be”).
Notably, there were no female artists nominated for the Top Country Artist category. Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, and Maren Morris will vie for Top Country Female Artist.
UMG Nashville’s Alan Jackson earned a nomination for Top Christian Album, for his Precious Memories Collection. Also nominated in the category are MercyMe, Elevation Worship, Hillsong United and Hillsong Worship.
Big Machine Label Group artist Taylor Swift earned five nominations this year, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (reputation) and Top Selling Album (reputation).
Kendrick Lamar and Ed Sheeran lead this year’s nominees, with 15 Billboard Music Awards nominations each.
2018 Billboard Music Awards Country And Christian Nominees:
Billboard Chart Achievement Award:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran
Top Selling Album:
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
P!nk, Beautiful Trauma
Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Divide)
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1
Taylor Swift, reputation
Top Selling Song:
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran “Perfect”
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 & Faith Hill
Top Country Song:
Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina, “What Ifs”
Sam Hunt, “Body Like A Back Road”
Dustin Lynch, “Small Town Boy”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be”
Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know”
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 Christian Artist:
Elevation Worship
Hillsong UNITED
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
Travis Greene
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Tamela Mann
Top Christian Song:
Elevation Worship, “O Come To The Altar”
Hillsong Worship, “What A Beautiful Name”
Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly, “I’ll Find You”
MercyMe, “Even If”
Zach Williams, “Old Church Choir”
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, “Trust In You”
Travis Greene, “You Waited”
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, “You Deserve It”
Tamela Mann, “Change Me”
Charlie Wilson, “I’m Blessed”
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
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way From Sunday
Travis Greene, Crossover: Live From Music City
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit
Marvin Sapp, Close
About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
