The 2018 Billboard Music Awards is Here

The Billboard Music Awards, one of the biggest, most prestigious, music award shows, is finally happening on May 21, 2018 at 8:00AM, PH time. The three-hour coast-to-coast live telecast will be hosted by Global Superstar and Voice Coach, Kelly Clarkson, in what is sure to be a star-studded night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Among the full list of nominees released last April 17, 2018, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars currently stand at the top, with a whopping 15 nominations each. Close behind them, Post Malone stands with 13 nominations, followed by Imagine Dragons, with 11 nominations. Other top nominees include Drake with 9 nominations, Justin Bieber and Cardi B with 8 each, and Despacito artists, Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi with 7 apiece. See the rest of the Billboard nominees here.

Meanwhile, already in the line-up of performances are chart toppers Shawn Mendes, Dua Lipa and Camila Cabello. Plus, a special performance from K-Pop sensation BTS, who will be debuting their newest single from their much awaited album, Love Yourself: Tear.

Excited? Get to know the top nominees at this year’s awards with these fast facts:

BTS

No complete strangers to the Billboard Music Award, the sensational Korean septet are coming back, after being nominated for Top Social Artist for the second time in a row. After practically stealing the show – and the trophy for Top Social Artist, sorry Justin and Selena – at last year’s awards, the group has enjoyed even more popularity (if that’s even possible) with their official debut on US television, performing “DNA” at the AMAs. The single had been their first ever to enter into the Hot 100, but their previous albums have been debuting at increasingly higher spots on the Billboard 200—their highest spot ever at #7, with their 2017 album, Love Yourself: Her.

Justin Bieber

Even without a new album, 15-time Billboard Music Award winner Justin Bieber was a chart superstar in 2017 thanks to featured vocals on two of the year's No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits. He teamed with DJ Khaled, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne on "I'm the One," which became only the 28th song in the Hot100's history to debut in the top slot. The next week, Bieber replaced himself at No.1 – for the second time in his career – with "Despacito," his remixed smash with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. The trio conquered the Hot 100's summit for a record - tying 16 weeks, matching Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" (in 1995-96) for the longest reign at No. 1 ever on the chart.

Cardi B

Cardi B cashed in big in 2017, as she became only the third act ever, and the first rapper, to place her first three Billboard Hot 100 chart entries in the top 10 simultaneously, joining only The Beatles and Ashanti in achieving the feat. Cardi B's debut hit, "Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)," spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, also making her just the second female rapper to top the tally without any other billed artists, following Lauryn Hill, with "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998. Following her "Bodak" breakthrough, Cardi B nabbed a No. 1 in early 2018 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with her Bruno Mars collaboration "Finesse."

Drake

Seemingly, only one person can break a Drake chart record … Drake. The superstar rewrote his Billboard Hot 100 record for the most entries by an artist in a single week, as his More Life album release propelled him to 24 simultaneous titles, three more than his then-record set in 2016. More Life's arrival also pushed Drake ahead of label mate and frequent collaborator Lil Wayne for the most Hot 100 entries by any solo artist. In 2018, the prolific MC, whose 13 Billboard Music Award wins in 2017 set a single-night record, has added jewels to his chart crown. "God's Plan" joined his 2016 smash "One Dance" (featuring WizKid and Kyla) with double-digit weeks atop the Hot 100, making him the first male soloist with at least two songs (with lead-artist billing on both) that have each led for at least 10 weeks.

Kendrick Lamar

It's been a DAMN. fine year for Kendrick Lamar, as the hip-hop superstar clocked his third consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with DAMN. The album spent four weeks atop the tally and saw all 14 of its tracks reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The set also yielded Lamar's first Hot 100 No. 1, "Humble." Following his success with DAMN., Lamar returned as the curator and producer of Black Panther: The Album, which generated two more Hot 100 top 10s for him: "All the Stars," with SZA, and "Pray for Me," with The Weeknd.

Bruno Mars

Almost everything that Bruno Mars touches on the charts turns to gold, a flair that continued thanks to his third LP, 24K Magic. As the set produced top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the No. 4-peaking title cut, the No. 1 "That's What I Like" and, in early 2018, "Finesse," remixed with Cardi B, Mars became the first male to pull at least three Hot 100 top 10s from each of his first three proper LPs in over 30 years (since Lionel Richie in 1982-86). "Finesse" also topped the Pop Songs airplay chart, earning Mars a record-breaking honor: the track became his ninth No. 1 on the list, pushing him past Justin Timberlake for the most leaders among males in the chart's 25-year history.

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran muscled to the best shape of career so far with his third LP, ÷ (Divide). The set debuted as his second No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, while lead single "Shape of You" launched as the pop singer-songwriter's first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song went on to rule the Hot 100 for 12 weeks and log 33 total weeks in the top 10, the most for any title in the chart's history. In December, the album's third single, "Perfect," remixed with Beyoncé, began a six-week Hot 100 rule. Notably, thanks to the ballad, the superstars combined for the first Hot 100 No. 1 of the 2010s credited equally to a solo male and female.

Don’t miss out on all the performances lined up at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, live all the way from Las Vegas, on May 21, 8:00AM, on Blue Ant Entertainment. Plus! Check out what your favorite artists are wearing for the Red Carpet, live at 6:00AM on E!