Preview: What to Expect on the American Music Awards Tonight

The 2018 American Music Awards go down tonight and a lot of your favorite stars will be on hand to celebrate. 

Taylor Swift is set to open the show live, with her “reputation” track, “I Did Something Bad.” She’ll kick off a night of performances that will also include Camila Cabello, Mariah Carey, Benny Blanco, Halsey andKhalid, Ciara featuring Missy Elliott, Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Carrie Underwood, Dua Lipa, Cardi B with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, Jennifer Lopez, Ella Mai, Shawn Mendes and Zedd, Twenty One Pilots, and Panic! at the Disco, who’ll pay tribute to Queen with a performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

There will also be a salute to the late Aretha Franklin, with Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans, celebrating the Queen of Soul’s 1972 gospel album, “Amazing Grace.”

  • Presenters this year include Tyra Banks, Billy Eichner, Sara Gilbert, Kathryn Hahn, Amber Heard, Vanessa Hudgens, Heidi Klum, Lenny Kravitz, Normani, Rita Ora, Evan Ross & Ashlee Simpson-Ross, The Chainsmokers the cast of “Bohemian Rhapsody” including Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello and Gwilym Lee, Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, and Kelsea Ballerini and more.
  • Drake and Cardi B lead the pack of this year’s nominees with eight each, followed by Ed Sheeran and Post Malone with six and Camila Cabello with five. Drake is recognized this year in the AMA’s top category, Artist of the Year, where he’ll compete with, Imagine Dragons, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, while Cardi B nabs a nod for Best New Artist, opposite Camila Cabello, Khalid, Dua Lipa and the lateXXXTentacion. 
  • The 2018 American Music Awards, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross, airs on ABC at 8pm ET. 
  • Check out some of the major nominees below and CLICK HERE for the complete list. Wanna take a look back? CLICK HERE for a full list of 2017 winners.

2018 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARD NOMINATIONS 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • Drake
  • Imagine Dragons
  • Post Malone
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Taylor Swift

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE

  • Camila Cabello
  • Cardi B
  • Khalid
  • Dua Lipa
  • XXXTENTACION

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

  • Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
  • Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
  • Bruno Mars & Cardi B, “Finesse”
  • Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be”
  • Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”

TOUR OF THE YEAR

  • Beyoncé & JAY-­Z
  • Bruno Mars
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Taylor Swift
  • U2 

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  • Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
  • Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
  • Drake, “God’s Plan” 

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST

  • BTS
  • Cardi B
  • Ariana Grande
  • Demi Lovato
  • Shawn Mendes 

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST -- POP/ROCK

  • Drake
  • Post Malone
  • Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST -- POP/ROCK

  • Camila Cabello
  • Cardi B
  • Taylor Swift

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP -- POP/ROCK

  • Imagine Dragons
  • Maroon 5
  • Migos

FAVORITE ALBUM -- POP/ROCK

  • Drake, "Scorpion"
  • Ed Sheeran, "÷" (Divide)
  • Taylor Swift, "reputation"

FAVORITE SONG­ -- POP/ROCK

  • Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
  • Drake, “God’s Plan”
  • Ed Sheeran, “Perfect” 

FAVORITE ALBUM -- RAP/HIP­HOP

Drake, "Scorpion"Lil Uzi Vert, "Luv Is Rage 2"Post Malone, "beerbongs & bentleys"

FAVORITE SONG -- RAP/HIP­HOP

Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”Drake “God’s Plan”Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST -- SOUL/R&B

  • Khalid 
  • Bruno Mars
  • The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST -- SOUL/R&B

  • Ella Mai
  • Rihanna
  • SZA

FAVORITE ALBUM -- SOUL/R&B

  • Khalid “American Teen”
  • SZA “CTRL” 
  • XXXTENTACION “17”

FAVORITE SONG -- SOUL/R&B

  • Khalid “Young Dumb & Broke”
  • Ella Mai “Boo’d Up”
  • Bruno Mars & Cardi B “Finesse”

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