Cardi B will make her awards show hosting debut at the 2021 AMAs

The American Music Awards are mere weeks away and there's a lot to get excited about. Cardi B is set to host the show, which will air Sunday, November 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. Plus, there are some exciting names on the ballots for the coveted music trophies, like K-pop supergroup BTS who received their first-ever Artist of the Year nomination.

ARMYs will remember that the AMAs were the first American award show the boys ever performed at, making this a beautiful full-circle moment for BTS and all their fans. 

And they’re obviously not the only ones celebrating a major milestone – Cardi B is making her awards show hosting debut that night. Are we even ready for that?! She also scored three award nominations of her own including Favourite Female Hip-Hop Artist, Favourite Music Video (for "Up) and Favourite Hip-Hop Song (also for "Up"). We'll give her an extra big shout-out for being the only woman nominated in the Favourite Hip Hop Song category!

Olivia Rodrigo, who was a virtual unknown just over a year ago, has swept the nominations with the most nods, including Artist of the Year. Her seven nominations include Favourite Female Pop Artist, Favourite Trending Song (a new category this year), and New Artist of the Year.

The nominations, which were revealed in part on Good Morning America, and then in full on the AMA Twitter account, are also honouring Canadians, with The Weeknd coming in just behind Rodrigo with six nods, and Drake receiving four nods. Both Canucks are up for Artist of the Year against BTS and Rodrigo, and are joined by reigning nomination champ, Taylor Swift, who has won the award a whopping six times and holds the record for most AMA wins ever—32.

We are loving the names we’re seeing in both the Favourite Male Pop Artist and Favourite Female Pop Artist fields. There’s Drake, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X, and The Weeknd, and then Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Rodrigo, and Swift.

Favourite Male Hip-Hop Artist nominees include Drake, Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, Polo G, and Pop Smoke, while nominated in the female category are Cardi B, Coi Leray, Erica Banks, Megan Thee Stallion, and Saweetie. 

Same goes for her collaborator in crime, Megan Thee Stallion, for being the only woman represented in the Favourite Hip-Hop Album category.

The AMAs have also switched up a few things. On top of adding categories like the aforementioned Favourite Trending Song, it also added Favourite Gospel Artist and Favourite Latin Duo or Group. Ye (the artist formerly known as Kanye West) is represented in the new Gospel category rather than his usual presence in the Rap and Hip Hop fields.

Latin representation has skyrocketed since the first Latin category was added only in 1998. There are now five different Latin categories, matching as many categories for pop and country. And Bad Bunny is showing huge representation in those categories with five nods.

The list of nominees is not without a few eyebrow-raising mentions too, as disgraced country star Morgan Wallen received two nominations - Favourite Country Album for Dangerous: The Double Album and Favourite Male Country Artist. Since nominees are based on key fan interactions—as reflected on the Billboard charts—including streaming, album sales, song sales and radio airplay, and not based on a jury of peers or artist committee, MRC Live & Alternative, which produces the AMAs, released a statement to clarify Wallen’s inclusion.

“Morgan Wallen is a nominee this year based on charting. As his conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting). We plan to evaluate his progress in doing meaningful work as an ally to the Black community and will consider his participation in future shows.”

Voting for your favourite artist is now open, and, for the first time, fans can vote just by using TikTok! Search “AMAs” in the app to cast your ballot. The American Music Awards air Sunday, November 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

Full List of nominees below.

Artist of the year:
Ariana Grande
BTS
Drake
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

New artist of the year:
24kGoldn
Giveon
Masked Wolf
Olivia Rodrigo
The Kid LAROI

Collaboration of the year:
24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “DÁKITI”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon, “Peaches”

Favorite trending song:
Erica Banks, “Buss It”
Måneskin, “Beggin’”
Megan Thee Stallion, “Body”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
Popp Hunna, “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)”

Favorite music video:
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave the Door Open”
Cardi B, “Up”
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
The Weeknd, “Save Your Tears”

Favorite male pop artist:
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd

Favorite female pop artist:
Ariana Grande
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift

Favorite pop duo or group:
AJR
BTS
Glass Animals
Maroon 5
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)

Favorite pop album:
Ariana Grande, Positions
Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR
Taylor Swift, evermore
The Kid LAROI, F*CK LOVE

Favorite pop song:
BTS, “Butter”
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears (Remix)”

Favorite male country artist:
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen

Favorite female country artist:
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kacey Musgraves
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert

Favorite country duo or group:
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Lady A
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

Favorite country album:
Chris Stapleton, Starting Over
Gabby Barrett, Goldmine
Lee Brice, Hey World
Luke Bryan, Born Here Live Here Die Here
Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album

Favorite country song:
Chris Stapleton, “Starting Over”
Chris Young & Kane Brown, “Famous Friends”
Gabby Barrett, “The Good Ones”
Luke Combs, “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”

Favorite male hip-hop artist:
Drake
Lil Baby
Moneybagg Yo
Polo G
Pop Smoke

Favorite female hip-hop artist:
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Erica Banks
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie

Favorite hip-hop album:
Drake, Certified Lover Boy
Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die
Megan Thee Stallion, Good News
Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon
Rod Wave, SoulFly

Favorite hip-hop song:
Cardi B, “Up”
Internet Money ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV, “Lemonade”
Lil Tjay ft. 6LACK, “Calling My Phone”
Polo G, “RAPSTAR”
Pop Smoke, “What You Know Bout Love”

Favorite male R&B artist:
Chris Brown
Giveon
Tank
The Weeknd
Usher

Favorite female R&B artist:
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA

Favorite R&B album:
Doja Cat, Planet Her
Giveon, When It’s All Said and Done... Take Time
H.E.R., Back of My Mind
Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux Tales
Queen Naija, missunderstood

Favorite R&B song:
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave the Door Open”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Giveon, “Heartbreak Anniversary”
H.E.R., “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan, “Pick Up Your Feelings”

Favorite male Latin artist:
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Rauw Alejandro

Favorite female Latin artist:
Becky G
Kali Uchis
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA

Favorite Latin duo or group:
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón De Rene Camacho
Los Dos Carnales

Favorite Latin album:
Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo
Kali Uchis, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)
KAROL G, KG0516
Maluma, Papi Juancho
Rauw Alejandro, Afrodisíaco

Favorite Latin song:
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “DÁKITI”
Bad Bunny x ROSALÍA, “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE”
Farruko, “Pepas”
Kali Uchis, “telepatía”
Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái (Remix)”

Favorite rock artist:
AJR
All Time Low
Foo Fighters
Glass Animals
Machine Gun Kelly

Favorite inspirational artist:
CAIN
Carrie Underwood
Elevation Worship
Lauren Daigle
Zach Williams

Favorite gospel artist:
Kanye West
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Maverick City Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Favorite dance/electronic artist:
David Guetta
ILLENIUM
Marshmello
Regard
Tiësto

BEFORE YOU GO: Keanu Reeves does being Keanu Reeves like no one else

[video_embed id='2309692']BEFORE YOU GO: Keanu Reeves does being Keanu Reeves like no one else [/video_embed]