Everything to Know About the 2022 Billboard Music Awards: Host, Top Nominees and Must-See Performances

Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Everything to Know About the 2022 Billboard Music Awards: Host, Top Nominees and Must-See Performances

Lights, camera, music! The 2022 Billboard Music Awards are sure to make a splash when the event takes over Las Vegas on Sunday, May 15. “This will be unlike any awards show – I’m bringing the love and setting the frequency at an all-time high,” host Diddy said in a statement in last month. “The Billboard Music Awards truly represent the artists and where music is today, so I’m excited to curate the biggest live performances and surprises. The world has to tune in to see.” The “I’ll Be Missing You” singer, 52, will run the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, 25 years after he won his first BBMA in 1997 for his No Way Out record. This year's star-studded ceremony could see a new leader when it comes to the most-decorated artist in BBMA history. Justin Bieber currently sits in third place with 21 wins, but he is nominated in 13 categories this year — so he could give Drake (with 29 wins) and Taylor Swift (with 25 trophies) a run for their money. While the “Baby” crooner, 28, has a lot of nominations for the 2022 awards show, he was surpassed by The Weeknd, who leads the pack with 17 category nods, and by Doja Cat, who earned 14 nominations. [jwplayer 795iVMUY-zhNYySv2] All eyes will be on the Top Artist category — which includes The Weeknd, 32, Doja Cat, 26, Drake, 35, Swift, 32, and Olivia Rodrigo — when the night begins. Between their favorite artists' acceptance speeches, fans will be treated to a massive concert with some of the biggest musicians in the world taking the stage. Mary J. Blige, for example, is one of the must-see artists of the night — but her performance isn't the only thing she will be focused on come Sunday. The 51-year-old rapper is the 2022 Icon Award recipient. “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,” Blige said in a statement last month, per E! News. “Through it all, I always one way or another gravitated back to my first love, music.” She added: “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.” Scroll down to learn more about the 2022 Billboard Music Awards: [podcast_block]

Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Everything to Know About the 2022 Billboard Music Awards: Host, Top Nominees and Must-See Performances

Lights, camera, music! The 2022 Billboard Music Awards are sure to make a splash when the event takes over Las Vegas on Sunday, May 15. “This will be unlike any awards show – I’m bringing the love and setting the frequency at an all-time high,” host Diddy said in a statement in last month. “The Billboard Music Awards truly represent the artists and where music is today, so I’m excited to curate the biggest live performances and surprises. The world has to tune in to see.” The “I’ll Be Missing You” singer, 52, will run the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, 25 years after he won his first BBMA in 1997 for his No Way Out record. This year's star-studded ceremony could see a new leader when it comes to the most-decorated artist in BBMA history. Justin Bieber currently sits in third place with 21 wins, but he is nominated in 13 categories this year — so he could give Drake (with 29 wins) and Taylor Swift (with 25 trophies) a run for their money. While the “Baby” crooner, 28, has a lot of nominations for the 2022 awards show, he was surpassed by The Weeknd, who leads the pack with 17 category nods, and by Doja Cat, who earned 14 nominations. [jwplayer 795iVMUY-zhNYySv2] All eyes will be on the Top Artist category — which includes The Weeknd, 32, Doja Cat, 26, Drake, 35, Swift, 32, and Olivia Rodrigo — when the night begins. Between their favorite artists' acceptance speeches, fans will be treated to a massive concert with some of the biggest musicians in the world taking the stage. Mary J. Blige, for example, is one of the must-see artists of the night — but her performance isn't the only thing she will be focused on come Sunday. The 51-year-old rapper is the 2022 Icon Award recipient. “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,” Blige said in a statement last month, per E! News. “Through it all, I always one way or another gravitated back to my first love, music.” She added: “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.” Scroll down to learn more about the 2022 Billboard Music Awards: [podcast_block]

Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

When and Where Is It Taking Place?

The awards show is airing live coast-to-coast on Sunday, May 15, from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Who Is Hosting?

Diddy will serve as host and executive producer for the night.

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock; David Buchan/Shutterstock

Who Is Nominated?

Doja Cat, The Weeknd, Bieber, Drake, Rodrigo, Swift and Kanye West are among the list of nominees. Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, The Kid Laroi and BTS also have nods in multiple categories.

Credit: Mark Humphrey/AP/Shutterstock; David Fisher/Shutterstock

Who Is Performing?

Miranda Lambert, Sheeran, Elle King and Becky G were announced in May as latest acts set to hit the stage at the music-filled event. Burna Boy, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Rauw Alejandro, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Florence + the Machine, Maxwell and Silk Sonic were previously listed as part of the star-studded lineup.

Credit: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Controversial Comebacks?

Travis Scott’s Billboard Music Awards performance will be his second public event since the the tragedy at his Astroworld Festival in November 2021, which resulted in mass casualties. The 31-year-old rapper previously made his return to the stage during the Miami Grand Prix weekend in early May.

Morgan Wallen, for his part, hasn’t performed at an awards show since he came under fire in February 2021 for saying the N-word in a leaked video. The country singer, 28, has since apologized for his actions and his music has returned to the airwaves following a brief ban on country radio. Earlier this year, he won Album of the Year at the ACM Awards.

Credit: RMV/Shutterstock

Where Can You Watch?

The event will air on NBC at 8 p.m. ET and will also be available for viewers to stream on Peacock.

Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC

Who Dropped Out?

After announcing their first Billboard Music Awards performance since 1999, the Red Hot Chili Peppers pulled out of the show’s lineup.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will not be able to perform at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday,” a post from the band’s official Instagram read on Wednesday, May 11. “They look forward to seeing you on the road this summer!.”

Credit: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Last Minute Additions

It was announced on Thursday, May 12, that Machine Gun Kelly and Dan + Shay had been added to the show's performance lineup. 

“Get ready to ROCK as @machinegunkelly makes his #BBMA’s debut, Sunday at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on NBC,” the Billboard Music Awards official account tweeted.

“We're just so glad @DanAndShay exist because they are performing at the #BBMAs!! Don't miss it this Sunday at 8PM ET/5PM PT on NBC and Peacock,” the account wrote in a second tweet at the time. 

This will be the Good Mourning star’s first performance for the awards show, while the country duo have taken the stage once before with Tori Kelly in 2019.