Sam and Chris Lead Billboard Country Nominees

Nominees for the 2018 Billboard Music Awards were just announced, with Chris Stapleton and Sam Hunt leading the pack for Country with five nods apiece.

Both Chris and Sam will compete for Top Country Artist, along with Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett, while Chris is also up for Top Billboard 200 Artist and Top Selling Album for “From A Room: Vol. 1,” and Sam is up for Top Selling Song for “Body Like A Back Road,” as well as the Billboard Chart Achievement Award.

Kelly Clarkson has been tapped to host this year's award show, and she's raring to go. “To prepare for hosting the Billboard Music Awards, I already have 20 costume changes planned,” she said in a statement. “I will be flying in like my girl Pink, and calling Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman for jokes. Well, or I’m just gonna show up and celebrate my favorite artists and get to know a few more. Yeah, maybe I’ll go with that plan.”

The 2018 Billboard Music Awards will take place May 20th and air on NBC.

Billboard Music Award Nominees

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”


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.”

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”


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