Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby have a chance to win big at the 21st BET Awards!
On Thursday (May 27), BET announced its 2021 award show nominees with both rappers leading the pack with seven nominations each. This year's show is set to air live on June 27 at 8 PM ET with a fully vaccinated live audience.
“We are back and excited to bring culture’s biggest night, the 2021 ‘BET Awards,’ safely back to Los Angeles to celebrate this year’s incredible roster of nominees,” Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, said in a statement. “We broke ground as one of the first official award shows to move forward during the global pandemic and we are ready to take our pioneer status to the next level with the return of an audience to celebrate the best and brightest creative minds in the entertainment industry.”
Megan's seven noms include Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year ("WAP"), Album of the Year (Good News), Best Collaboration for her collabs with DaBaby ("Cry Baby") and Cardi B ("WAP"), and two Viewer’s Choice Award nominations.
DaBaby's seven nominations include Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Album of the Year (Blame it on Baby), four nods for Best Collaboration for his features with Roddy Ricch (Rockstar), Megan Thee Stallion ("Cry Baby"), Pop Smoke & Lil Baby ("For The Night"), and Jack Harlow, Tory Lanez andLil Wayne ("Whats Poppin" Remix), and a Viewer’s Choice Award nomination.
Drake and Cardi have the second-most nominations with five a piece.
Last week, BET announced that the 2021 BET Awards will have a live event from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live. The network also shared its plan to invite vaccinated individuals to register for consideration to be a part of the audience, starting May 27th.
In a statement, the network said it will “work closely with Los Angeles County to support community vaccination efforts and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols.”
See below for the complete list of 2021 BET Awards nominees:
Album of the Year
After Hours– The Weeknd
Blame It On Baby– DaBaby
Good News– Megan Thee Stallion
Heaux Tales– Jazmine Sullivan
King’s Disease– Nas
Ungodly Hour– Chloe X Halle
Best Collaboration
Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
DaBaby f/ Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
DJ Khaled f/ Drake – “Popstar”
Jack Harlow f/ DaBaby, Tory Lanez & Lil Wayne – “What’s Poppin” (Remix)
Megan Thee Stallion f/ DaBaby – “Cry Baby”
Pop Smoke f/ Lil Baby & DaBaby – “For the Night”
Best Female R&B / Pop Artist
Beyoncé
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
Summer Walker
SZA
Best Male R&B / Pop Artist
6lack
Anderson .Paak
Chris Brown
Giveon
Tank
The Weeknd
Best New Artist
Coi Leray
Flo Milli
Giveon
Jack Harlow
Latto
Pooh Shiesty
Best Group
21 Savage & Metro Boomin
Chloe X Halle
Chris Brown & Young Thug
City Girls
Migos
Silk Sonic
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Doja Cat
Megan Thee Stallion
Latto
Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
DaBaby
Drake
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Bebe Winans – “In Jesus Name”
Cece Winans – “Never Lost”
H.E.R. – “Hold Us Together”
Kirk Franklin – “Strong God”
Marvin Sapp – “Thank You For It All”
Tamela Mann – “Touch From You”
BET Her Award
Alicia Keys f/ Khalid – “So Done”
Brandy f/ Chance The Rapper – “Baby Mama”
Bri Steves – “Anti Queen”
Chloe X Halle – “Baby Girl”
Ciara f/ Ester Dean – “Rooted”
SZA – “Good Days”
Best International Act
Aya Nakamura (France)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Emicida (Brazil)
Headie One (Uk)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Young T & Bugsey (Uk)
Youssoupha (France)
Viewer’s Choice Award
Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
DaBaby f/ Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
DJ Khaled f/ Drake – “Popstar”
Drake f/ Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
Megan Thee Stallion f/ Beyoncé – “Savage” (Remix)
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video of the Year
Cardi B – “Up”
Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Chloe X Halle – “Do It”
Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
Drake f/ Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Bruno Mars And Florent Déchard
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Dave Meyers
Hype Williams
Best Movie
Coming 2 America
Judas and the Black Messiah
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
One Night in Miami
Soul
The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Best Actress
Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Issa Rae
Jurnee Smollett
Viola Davis
Zendaya
Best Actor
Aldis Hodge
Chadwick Boseman
Damson Idris
Daniel Kaluuya
Eddie Murphy
Lakeith Stanfield
Youngstars Award
Alex R. Hibbert
Ethan Hutchison
Lonnie Chavis
Marsai Martin
Michael Epps
Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson
Candace Parker
Claressa Shields
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Sportsman of the Year Award
Kyrie Irving
LeBron James
Patrick Mahomes
Russell Westbrook
Russell Wilson
Stephen Curry
Photo: Getty Images