BET has announced the official nominations for their 2021 Awards show, airing live Sunday, June 27 at 8 pm ET/PT, and Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby are leading with seven respective nominations.
Cardi B and Drake follow closely behind, tied with five nominations each. Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars, Chloe X Halle, and Chris Brown are all tied with four nominations.
BET said in a press release, “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. 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 Thee Stallion left her mark in last year’s telecast with her Mad Max-inspired performance for “Girls in The Hood” and “Savage.” Megan claims one of the top spots securing seven nominations for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for “WAP,” Album of the Year for Good News, two Viewer’s Choice Award nominations, and Best Collaboration for her features with DaBaby (“Cry Baby”) and Cardi B (“WAP”).
DaBaby’s performance at last year’s BET Awards left a mark of his own in another way. He performed “ROCKSTAR” featuring Roddy Rich in a powerful video depicting police brutality in the height of the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd's death. DaBaby’s seven nods including Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Album of the Year for Blame it on Baby, Viewer’s Choice Award, and four Best Collaboration nominations for his features alongside Roddy Ricch (“ROCKSTAR”), Megan Thee Stallion (“Cry Baby”), Pop Smoke & Lil Baby (“For The Night”), and Jack Harlow, Tory Lanez and Lil Wayne (“What’s Poppin- Remix”).
Following last year’s virtual awards show, this year’s awards show will return with a live show audience. Beginning today, vaccinated individuals can register starting today to be part of the live show audience.
The complete list of nominees for The 2021 BET Awards are:
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 Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
DaBaby Ft. Roddy Ricch – “ROCKSTAR”
Dj Khaled Ft. Drake – “Popstar”
Jack Harlow Ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez and Lil Wayne – “Whats Poppin (Remix)”
Megan Thee Stallion Ft. DaBaby – “Cry Baby”
Pop Smoke Ft. Lil Baby and 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 and Metro Boomin
Chloe X Halle
Chris Brown and 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 Ft. Khalid – So Done
Brandy Ft. Chance The Rapper – Baby Mama
Bri Steves – Anti Queen
Chloe X Halle – Baby Girl
Ciara Ft. 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 Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Chris Brown &Amp; Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
Dababy Ft. Roddy Ricch – “ROCKSTAR”
Dj Khaled Ft. Drake – “Popstar”
Drake Ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Beyoncé – “Savage (Remix)”
Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Video Of The Year
Cardi B – “Up”
Cardi B Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Chloe X Halle – “Do It”
Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
Drake Ft. 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