Mary J. Blige is set to be honored with the Icon Award during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, celebrating those who have achieved excellence on the Billboard Charts and have made an unforgettable mark on music as a whole.
“My career has been such an incredible and unexpected journey that has included many turns into avenues I never could have imagined like acting, producing, launching businesses, and now even my own music festival,” expressed Blige in a press statement. “Through it all, I always one way or another gravitated back to my first love, music. To be recognized in this way at this moment, with the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards, is an incredible honor and one that I am truly humbled by.”
Since the honor was established in 2011, only 10 artists have received the award: Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cher, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Garth Brooks, and P!NK.
Mary J. Blige performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
In the competitive categories, Doja Cat and The Weeknd lead among nominees with 14 and 17 nominations respectively. The most-decorated BBMA artist of all time, Drake, who holds the record with 29 wins, is up for 11 categories at this year’s event.
For more than 30 years, the BBMAs have celebrated music achievements. The finalists are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts. This year’s awards are based on the chart period from April 10, 2021, through March 26, 2022.
The BBMAs will broadcast live coast-to-coast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 15 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on NBC. Additionally, the ceremony will stream live on Peacock. The awards are produced by MRC Live & Alternative with Robert Deaton as Executive Producer.
View the full list of nominees for the 2022 Billboard Music Awards below.
Top Artist
Doja Cat
Drake
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top New Artist
GIVĒON
Masked Wolf
Olivia Rodrigo
Shiesty Pooh
The Kid LAROI
Top Male Artist
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist
Adele
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
bts
Glass Animals
Imagine Dragons
migos
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Adele
Drake
Juice WRLD
morgan wallen
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
Doja Cat
Drake
Justin Bieber
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Doja Cat
Drake
Lil Nas X
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
Adele
bts
Dua Lipa
Ed Sheeran
Walker Hayes
Top Radio Songs Artist
Doja Cat
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist (NEW)
Doja Cat
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd
Top Billboard Global (Excl. US) Artist (NEW)
bts
Dua Lipa
Ed Sheeran
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd
top-tour
Eagles (Hotel California Tour)
Genesis (The Last Domino? Tour)
Green Day, Fall Out Boy & Weezer (The Hella Mega Tour)
Harry Styles (Love on Tour)
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top R&B Artist
Doja Cat
GIVĒON
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Summer Walker
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
GIVĒON
khalid
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat
Summer Walker
SZA
Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
Usher (The Vegas Residency)
Top Rap Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Moneybag I
G-pole
Top Rap Male Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
G-pole
Top Rap Female Artist
Cardi-B
latto
Megan Thee Stallion
top rap tour
Cole (The Off-Season Tour)
Lil Baby (The Back Outside Tour)
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
Top Country Artist
Chris Stapleton
Luke Combs
morgan wallen
Taylor Swift
Walker Hayes
Top Country Male Artist
Chris Stapleton
Luke Combs
morgan wallen
Top Country Female Artist
Carrie Underwood
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Tours
Chris Stapleton (All-American Road Show Tour)
Eric Church (Gather Again Tour)
Luke Bryan (Proud To Be Right Here Tour)
Top Rock Artist
Glass Animals
Imagine Dragons
Machine Gun Kelly
Måneskin
twenty one pilots
Top Rock Tour
Genesis (The Last Domino? Tour)
Green Day, Fall Out Boy & Weezer (The Hella Mega Tour)
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top Latin Artist
bad bunny
Farruko
kali uchis
Karol G
Raww Alexander
Top Latin Male Artist
bad bunny
Farruko
Raww Alexander
Top Latin Female Artist
kali uchis
Karol G
ROSALIA
Top Latin Duo/Group
50 caliber
Armed Link
Firm Group
Top Latin Tour
Bad Bunny (The Last World Tour)
Enrique Iglesias & Ricky Martin (Live in Concert)
Los Bukis (A Singing History Tour)
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Lady Gaga
marshmello
Pot
Top Christian Artist
Carrie Underwood
Elevation Worship
for KING & COUNTRY
Lauren Daigle
Ye
Top Gospel Artist
CeCe Winans
Elevation Worship
Kirk Franklin
Maverick City Music
Ye
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Albums
Adele “30”
Doja Cat “Planet Her”
Drake “Certified Lover Boy”
Morgan Wallen “Dangerous: The Double Album”
Olivia Rodrigo “SOUR”
Top Soundtrack
Arcane League of Legends
“Charm”
“In The Heights”
“Sing 2”
“tick, tick…BOOM!”
Top R&B Albums
Doja Cat “Planet Her”
GIVĒON “When It’s All Said And Done…Take Time”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) “An Evening With Silk Sonic”
Summer Walker “Still Over It”
The Weeknd “Dawn FM”
Top Rap Albums
Drake “Certified Lover Boy”
Moneybagg Yo “A Gangsta’s Pain”
Rod Wave “SoulFly”
The Kid LAROI “F*CK LOVE”
Ye “Donda”
Top Country Albums
Florida Georgia Line “Life Rolls On”
Lee Brice “Hey World”
Taylor Swift “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”
Taylor Swift “Red (Taylor’s Version)”
Walker Hayes “Country Stuff: The Album”
Top Rock Album
AJR “OK ORCHESTRA”
Coldplay “Music Of The Spheres”
Imagine Dragons “Mercury – Act 1”
John Mayer “Sob Rock”
twenty one pilots “Scaled And Icy”
Top Latin Albums
Armed Link “Cut Veins”
J Balvin “JOSE”
Kali Uchis “Fearless (of Love and Other Demons) ∞”
KAROL G “KG0516”
Rauw Alejandro “VICE VERSA”
Top Dance/Electronic Album
C418 “Minecraft – Volume Alpha”
FKA twigs “CAPRISONGS”
ILLENIUM “Fallen Embers”
Porter Robinson “Nurture”
RÜFÜS DU SOL “Surrender”
Top Christian Album
Carrie Underwood “My Savior”
CeCe Winans “Believe For It”
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music “Old Church Basement”
Phil Wickham “Hymn Of Heaven”
Ye “Donda”
Top Gospel Album
CeCe Winans “Believe For It”
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music “Old Church Basement”
Maverick City Music “Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition”
Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM “move your heart.”
Ye “Donda”
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Songs
Doja Cat ft. SZA “Kiss Me More”
Dua Lipa “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears”
Top Streaming Song
Dua Lipa “Levitating”
Glass Animals “Heat Waves”
Olivia Rodrigo “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears”
Top Selling Song
BTS “Butter”
BTS “Permission to Dance”
Dua Lipa “Levitating”
Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits”
Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
Top Radio Song
Dua Lipa “Levitating”
Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits”
Olivia Rodrigo “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears”
Top Collaboration
Doja Cat ft. SZA “Kiss Me More”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & GIVĒON “Peaches”
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow “INDUSTRY BABY”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears”
Top Billboard Global 200 Song (NEW)
Dua Lipa “Levitating”
Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits”
Olivia Rodrigo “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears”
Top Billboard Global (Excl. US) Song (NEW)
BTS “Butter”
Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits”
Lil Nas X “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears”
Top Viral Song (NEW)
Doja Cat ft. SZA “Kiss Me More”
GAYLE “abcdefu”
Glass Animals “Heat Waves”
Masked Wolf “Astronaut In The Ocean”
Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
Top R&B Song
Doja Cat & The Weeknd “You Right”
GIVĒON “Heartbreak Anniversary”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & GIVĒON “Peaches”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) “Leave The Door Open”
WizKid ft. Justin Bieber & Tems “Essence”
Top Rap Song
Drake ft. 21 Savage, Project Pat “Knife Talk”
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug “Way 2 Sexy”
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow “INDUSTRY BABY”
Masked Wolf “Astronaut In The Ocean”
Polo G “RAPSTAR”
Top Country Song
Chris Stapleton “You Should Probably Leave”
Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood “If I Didn’t Love You”
Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan “Buy Dirt”
Luke Combs “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
Top Rock Song
Coldplay X BTS “My Universe”
Elle King & Miranda Lambert “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”
Imagine Dragons “Follow You”
Måneskin “Beggin’”
THE ANXIETY: WILLOW & Tyler Cole “Meet Me At Our Spot”
Top Latin Song
Aventura x Bad Bunny “I came back”
Bad Bunny “Yonaguni”
Farruko “Pepas”
Kali Uchis “telepathy”
Rauw Alejandro “All About You”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Elton John & Dua Lipa “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix”
Farruko “Pepas”
Regard x Troye Sivan x Tate McRae “You”
Tiësto “The Business”
Travis Scott & HVME “Goosebumps”
Top Christian Song
Anne Wilson “My Jesus”
Ye “Hurricane”
Ye “Moon”
Ye “Off The Grid”
Ye “Praise God”
Top Gospel Song
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music ft. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine “Jireh”
Ye “Hurricane”
Ye “Moon”
Ye “Off The Grid”
Ye “Praise God”