Billboard Music Awards 2023 finalists include Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan

The Billboard Music Awards 2023 finalists have been revealed, with Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan among the top finalists along with SZA, The Weeknd and Drake.

Swift, the most decorated female BBMAs artist of all time with 29 wins, leads as a finalist in 20 categories, the most of any artist this year. With 29 previous wins, Swift could surpass Drake for most wins of all time if she wins at least five this year.

Her chart-topping hit “Anti-Hero” is up for five awards, including Top Hot 100 Song. The song spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — her longest-ruling chart-topper, surpassing the seven-week No. 1 run of “Blank Space.”

In July, Swift placed four concurrent albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 — the first time in nearly 60 years that a living artist had as many as four titles in the top 10 at the same time. Additionally, in July, she charted 11 albums on the Billboard 200 at the same time — becoming the first woman, and first living soloist, to have 11 albums on the chart concurrently.

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Morgan Wallen leads male finalists with 16 nominations

Wallen is the BBMAs' leading male finalist this year up for 16 awards with 17 entries, including Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, and Top Hot 100 Artist. His album "One Thing At A Time" is up for two awards, while his song “Last Night” is up for three awards, including Top Hot 100 Song.

Morgan Wallen performs during his new album release show “One Thing At A Time’ at Bridgestone Arena on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.
Morgan Wallen performs during his new album release show “One Thing At A Time’ at Bridgestone Arena on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

“Last Night” spent 16 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 — the sole longest No. 1-run for a non-collaboration, and tying for the second-longest reign in the chart’s 65-year history. His latest album spent 16 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the most weeks atop the chart for any album since Adele’s “21” ruled for 24 non-consecutive weeks in 2011-12.

Zach Bryan among first-time BBMA finalists

Zach Bryan joins Bailey Zimmerman, Coi Leray, Fifty Fifty, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera, Jelly Roll, Ice Spice, Metro Boomin, NewJeans, Peso Pluma, and Oliver Anthony Music as first-time finalists for BBMAs.

Bryan tops the newcomers list being up for 13 awards with 14 entries, including Top New Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, and Top Streaming Songs Artist. His song “Something in the Orange” is a finalist for three awards, including Top Streaming Song, Top Country Song, and twice in the Top Rock Song category.

Zach Bryan performs on stage during the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival at the Park at Harlinsdale Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Franklin, Tenn.
Zach Bryan performs on stage during the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival at the Park at Harlinsdale Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Franklin, Tenn.

Bryan scored his first No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 with “I Remember Everything,” featuring Kacey Musgraves (also her first No. 1). The song concurrently hit No. 1 on "Billboard’s" Hot Country Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs surveys — the first hit to top all three charts.

'Reimagined' BBMA feature new categories for 2023

Nine new awards were unveiled this year, including Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Hot 100 Producer, Top Rock Duo/Group, Top Global K-Pop Artist, Top K-Pop Tour, Top K-Pop Album, Top Global K-Pop Song, Top Afrobeats Artist and Top Afrobeats Song.

Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, and Zach Bryan are finalists for both Top Hot 100 Songwriter and Top Hot 100 Producer awards. Songwriter finalists are Ashley Gorley, Jack Antonoff, SZA, Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan.

The reimagined BBMAs will air on Sunday, November 19 featuring winner celebrations, behind-the-scenes moments, and performances. Viewers can catch the awards across BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch.

Billboard Music Awards finalists for 2023:

Top Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

Top New Artist

Bailey Zimmerman

Ice Spice

Jelly Roll

Peso Pluma

Zach Bryan

Top Male Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

The Weeknd

Zach Bryan

Top Female Artist

Beyoncé

Miley Cyrus

Olivia Rodrigo

SZA

Taylor Swift

Top Duo/Group

Eslabon Armado

Fifty Fifty

Fuerza Regida

Grupo Frontera

Metallica

Top Billboard 200 Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Songwriter (NEW)

Ashley Gorley

Jack Antonoff

SZA

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

Top Hot 100 Producer (NEW)

Jack Antonoff

Joey Moi

Metro Boomin

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

Top Streaming Songs Artist

Drake

Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

Top Radio Songs Artist

Miley Cyrus

Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Top Song Sales Artist

Jason Aldean

Miley Cyrus

Morgan Wallen

Oliver Anthony Music

Taylor Swift

Top Billboard Global 200 Artist

Bad Bunny

Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist

Bad Bunny

Ed Sheeran

NewJeans

Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Top R&B Artist

Beyoncé

Chris Brown

Rihanna

SZA

The Weeknd

Top R&B Male Artist

Chris Brown

Miguel

The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist

Beyoncé

Rihanna

SZA

Top R&B Touring Artist

Beyoncé

Bruno Mars

The Weeknd

Top Rap Artist

21 Savage

Drake

Lil Baby

Metro Boomin

Travis Scott

Top Rap Male Artist

21 Savage

Drake

Travis Scott

Top Rap Female Artist

Doja Cat

Ice Spice

Nicki Minaj

Top Rap Touring Artist

50 Cent

Drake

Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa

Top Country Artist

Bailey Zimmerman

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

Top Country Male Artist

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Zach Bryan

Top Country Female Artist

Lainey Wilson

Megan Moroney

Taylor Swift

Top Country Duo/Group

Old Dominion

Parmalee

Zac Brown Band

Top Country Touring Artist

George Strait

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Top Rock Artist

Jelly Roll

Noah Kahan

Stephen Sanchez

Steve Lacy

Zach Bryan

Top Rock Duo/Group (NEW)

Arctic Monkeys

Foo Fighters

Metallica

Top Rock Touring Artist

Coldplay

Depeche Mode

Elton John

Top Latin Artist

Bad Bunny

Eslabon Armado

Fuerza Regida

KAROL G

Peso Pluma

Top Latin Male Artist

Bad Bunny

Peso Pluma

Rauw Alejandro

Top Latin Female Artist

KAROL G

ROSALÍA

Shakira

Top Latin Duo/Group

Eslabon Armado

Fuerza Regida

Grupo Frontera

Top Latin Touring Artist

Daddy Yankee

Karol G

RBD

Top Global K-Pop Artist (NEW)

Jimin

NewJeans

Stray Kids

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

TWICE

Top K-Pop Touring Artist (NEW)

BLACKPINK

SUGA

TWICETop Afrobeats Artist (NEW)

Burna Boy

Libianca

Rema

Tems

Wizkid

Top Dance/Electronic Artist

Beyoncé

Calvin Harris

David Guetta

Drake

Tiësto

Top Christian Artist

Brandon Lake

Elevation Worship

for KING & COUNTRY

Lauren Daigle

Phil Wickham

Top Gospel Artist

CeCe Winans

Elevation Worship

Kanye West

Kirk Franklin

Maverick City Music

ALBUM AWARDS

Top Billboard 200 Album

Drake & 21 Savage “Her Loss”

Metro Boomin “HEROES & VILLAINS”

Morgan Wallen “One Thing At A Time”

SZA “SOS”

Taylor Swift “Midnights”

Top Soundtrack

“Barbie The Album”

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Music From and Inspired By”

“ELVIS”

“Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

Top R&B Album

Beyoncé “RENAISSANCE”

Brent Faiyaz “WASTELAND”

Drake “Honestly, Nevermind”

Steve Lacy “Gemini Rights”

SZA “SOS”

Top Rap Album

Drake & 21 Savage “Her Loss”

Future “I Never Liked You”

Lil Baby “It’s Only Me”

Metro Boomin “HEROES & VILLAINS”

Travis Scott “UTOPIA”

Top Country Album

Luke Combs “Gettin’ Old”

Luke Combs “Growin’ Up”

Morgan Wallen “One Thing At A Time”

Taylor Swift “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”

Zach Bryan “American Heartbreak”

Top Rock Album

HARDY “the mockingbird & THE CROW”

Jelly Roll “Whitsitt Chapel”

Noah Kahan “Stick Season”

Steve Lacy “Gemini Rights”

Zach Bryan “American Heartbreak”

Top Latin Album

Bad Bunny “Un Verano Sin Ti”

Eslabon Armado “DESVELADO”

Ivan Cornejo “Dañado”

KAROL G “MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO”

Peso Pluma “GÉNESIS”

Top K-Pop Album (NEW)

Jimin “FACE”

NewJeans “2nd EP ‘Get Up’”

Stray Kids “5-STAR”

TOMORROW X TOGETHER “The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION”

TWICE “READY TO BE: 12th Mini Album”

Top Dance/Electronic Album

Beyoncé “RENAISSANCE”

Drake “Honestly, Nevermind”

ILLENIUM “ILLENIUM”

Kim Petras “Feed The Beast”

Tiësto “DRIVE”

Top Christian Album

Anne Wilson “My Jesus”

Brandon Lake “House of Miracles”

CAIN “Rise Up”

Elevation Worship “LION”

Lauren Daigle “Lauren Daigle”

Top Gospel Album

Jonathan McReynolds “My Truth”

Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin “Kingdom Book One”

Tye Tribbett “All Things New”

Whitney Houston “I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston”

Zacardi Cortez “Imprint (Live in Memphis)”

SONG AWARDS

Top Hot 100 Song

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage “Creepin’”

Miley Cyrus “Flowers”

Morgan Wallen “Last Night”

SZA “Kill Bill”

Taylor Swift “Anti-Hero”

Top Streaming Song

Miley Cyrus “Flowers”

Morgan Wallen “Last Night”

SZA “Kill Bill”

Taylor Swift “Anti-Hero”

Zach Bryan “Something in the Orange”

Top Radio Song

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage “Creepin’”

Miley Cyrus “Flowers”

Rema & Selena Gomez “Calm Down”

Taylor Swift “Anti-Hero”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die For You”

Top Selling Song

Jason Aldean “Try That in a Small Town”

Jimin ‘Like Crazy”

Miley Cyrus “Flowers”

Oliver Anthony Music “Rich Men North of Richmond”

Taylor Swift “Anti-Hero”

Top Collaboration

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha “I’m Good (Blue)”

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage “Creepin’”

Rema & Selena Gomez “Calm Down”

Sam Smith & Kim Petras “Unholy”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die For You”

Top Billboard Global 200 Song

Miley Cyrus “Flowers”

Rema & Selena Gomez “Calm Down”

SZA “Kill Bill”

Taylor Swift “Anti-Hero”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die For You”

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha “I’m Good (Blue)”

Harry Styles “As It Was”

Miley Cyrus “Flowers”

Rema & Selena Gomez “Calm Down”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die For You”

Top R&B Song

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage “Creepin’”

Miguel “Sure Thing”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die For You”

SZA “Kill Bill”

SZA “Snooze”Top Rap Song

Coi Leray “Players”

Drake & 21 Savage “Rich Flex”

Gunna “fukumean”

Lil Durk ft. J. Cole “All My Life”

Toosii “Favorite Song”

Top Country Song

Bailey Zimmerman “Rock and a Hard Place”

Luke Combs “Fast Car”

Morgan Wallen “Last Night”

Morgan Wallen “You Proof”

Zach Bryan “Something in the Orange”

Top Rock Song

Jelly Roll “Need A Favor”

Stephen Sanchez “Until I Found You”

Steve Lacy “Bad Habit”

Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves “I Remember Everything”

Zach Bryan “Something in the Orange”

Top Latin Song

Eslabon Armado x Peso Pluma “Ella Baila Sola”

Fuerza Regida x Grupo Frontera “Bebe Dame”

Grupo Frontera x Bad Bunny “un x100to”

KAROL G & Shakira “TQG”

Yng Lvcas x Peso Pluma “La Bebe”

Top Global K-Pop Song (NEW)

Fifty Fifty “Cupid”

Jimin “Like Crazy”

Jungkook ft. Latto “Seven”

NewJeans “Ditto”

NewJeans “OMG”

Top Afrobeats Song (NEW)

Ayra Starr “Rush”

Libianca “People”

Oxlade “KU LO SA”

Rema & Selena Gomez “Calm Down”

Victony, Rema, & Tempoe ft. Don Toliver “Soweto”

Top Dance/Electronic Song

Bizarrap & Shakira “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”

David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha “I’m Good (Blue)”

Elton John & Britney Spears “Hold Me Closer”

Tiësto ft. Tate McRae “10:35”

Top Christian Song

Brandon Lake “Gratitude”

Chris Tomlin “Holy Forever”

for KING & COUNTRY with Jordin Sparks “Love Me Like I Am”

Lauren Daigle “Thank God I Do”

Phil Wickham “This Is Our God”

Top Gospel Song

CeCe Winans “Goodness of God”

Crowder & Dante Bowe ft. Maverick City Music “God Really Loves Us”

Elevation Worship ft. Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson “More Than Able”

Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin ft. Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore “Fear is Not My Future”

Zacardi Cortez “Lord Do It For Me (Live in Memphis)”

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen among Billboard Music Awards finalists

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