Once upon a time, long ago in 2019/early 2020, TikTok was a fun way to promote one’s music. Now, for many artists, it has become a deal breaker for their success. So, it wasn’t surprising when the American Music Awards allowed fans to pick their favorite singers, songs and albums on the social media app for the first time ever this year (although casting votes on the show’s website was still an option). This shift in voting style also makes sense after taking a peek at the leaders among the 2021 nominees, who’ll find out if they’re taking home a crystal pyramid trophy this Sunday, Nov. 21.
Olivia Rodrigo is at the very top of the list with seven nominations. Even more impressive, the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star is vying for both New Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year. At just 18 years old, the Disney starlet is going up against seasoned music veterans like Ariana Grande, Drake and Taylor Swift for the AMAs’ most coveted honor, despite still being considered a “new artist.” The way she has skyrocketed into pop stardom within the span of a year — or less, if you consider the May 2021 release of Olivia’s debut album SOUR to be her true takeoff point — reflects how Internet virality is determining the new generation of chart-toppers. Her debut single, “Driver’s License,” was practically the National Anthem of TikTok at one point during the pandemic.
The Weeknd holds the No. 2 spot on the list of artists with most AMAs nominations in 2021 — six, to be exact. While the 31-year-old singer found fame back when Vine was the “It” app, his song “Blinding Lights” set off a dance trend on TikTok in 2020 (and, of course, he achieved a career milestone by headlining the Super Bowl LV halftime show that very same year). Doja Cat is another standout nominee who climbed the celebrity ranks thanks to TikTok. While the 26-year-old singer/rapper has been building a cult following since 2014, it was her hit “Say So” that made her a household name. She’s entering the show with five nominations total.
As you can see from the handful of tweets below, two names keep resurfacing in online conversations as fans make their predictions ahead of the award show: Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift. The latter has already been trending on every social media platform since Nov. 13 thanks to the release of Red (Taylor’s Version). The country-turned-pop-turned folk singer is up for three awards, and if she nabs even just one, Taylor will beat the record for most AMAs wins ever. Actually, she’ll be beating herself, since the “All Too Well” singer holds the record with 32 total wins. Ironically, throughout these pre-AMAs weeks, Taylor and Olivia are the two artists who keep getting compared to one another thanks to a chorus in Taylor’s re-recording of her 2012 song, “Nothing New.” Although Taylor’s singing about herself in the past tense, fans can’t help but feel like she foreshadowed Olivia’s future success with the lines, “I know someday I’m gonna meet her / It’s a fever dream / The kind of radiance you only / Have at seventeen, she’ll know the way.” Millennial and Gen Z pop star forces will collide at the AMAs!
The AMAs is not just all about the awards. This year, the list of performers is stacked: Tyler, The Creator, Bad Bunny with Julieta Venegas and Tainy, MÃ¥neskin, Mickey Guyton, Walker Hayes, Zoe Wees, Jason Aldean, New Kids on the Block with New Edition, Kane Brown and Diplo will all be hitting the stage. The performance fans — especially K-pop stans — are especially anticipating, though, is the live debut of BTS’ collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, “Butter.”
On top of all this excitement, Cardi B will be making her hosting debut for the AMAs. Wondering what to do next? Voting is already closed, and if you didn’t secure a ticket for the event that’s being held at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, you can tune into ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Nov. 21. You can also stream the AMAs on Hulu the following day.
Here’s a look at every single nominee leading up to this Sunday’s show:
COMPLETE NOMINEES LIST
Artist of the Year
Ariana grande
Bts
Drake
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
New Artist of the Year
24kGoldn
GIVÄ’ON
Masked Wolf
Olivia Rodrigo
The Kid LAROI
Collaboration of the Year
24kGoldn ft. iann dior – “Mood”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez – “DÃKITI”
Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & GIVÄ’ON – “Peaches”
Favorite Trending Song
Erica Banks – “Buss It”
MÃ¥neskin – “Beggin’”
Megan Thee Stallion – “Body”
Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license”
Popp Hunna – “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)”
Favorite Music Video
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) – “Leave The Door Open”
Cardi B – “Up”
Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license”
The Weeknd – “Save Your Tears”
Favorite Male Pop Artist
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Pop Artist
Ariana Grande
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
Favorite Pop Duo or Group
AJR
BTS
Glass Animals
Maroon 5
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Favorite Pop Album
Ariana Grande – “Positions”
Dua Lipa – “Future Nostalgia”
Olivia Rodrigo – “SOUR”
Taylor Swift – “evermore”
The Kid LAROI – “F*CK LOVE”
Favorite Pop Song
BTS – “Butter”
Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Dua Lipa – “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande – “Save Your Tears (Remix)”
Favorite Male Country Artist
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Favorite Female Country Artist
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kacey Musgraves
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Favorite Country Duo or Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Lady A
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Favorite Country Album
Chris Stapleton – “Starting Over”
Gabby Barrett – “Goldmine”
Lee Brice – “Hey World”
Luke Bryan – “Born Here Live Here Die Here”
Morgan Wallen – “Dangerous: The Double Album”
Favorite Country Song
Chris Stapleton – “Starting Over”
Chris Young & Kane Brown – “Famous Friends”
Gabby Barrett – “The Good Ones”
Luke Combs – “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes – “Fancy Like”
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist
Drake
Lil Baby
Moneybagg Yo
Polo G
Pop Smoke
Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Erica Banks
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie
Favorite Hip-Hop Album
Drake – “Certified Lover Boy”
Juice WRLD – “Legends Never Die”
Megan Thee Stallion – “Good News”
Pop Smoke – “Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon”
Rod Wave – “SoulFly”
Favorite Hip-Hop Song
Cardi B – “Up”
Internet Money ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV – “Lemonade”
Lil Tjay ft. 6LACK – “Calling My Phone”
Polo G – “RAPSTAR”
Pop Smoke – “What You Know Bout Love”
Favorite Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
GIVÄ’ON
Tank
The Weeknd
Usher
Favorite Female R&B Artist
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA
Favorite R&B Album
Doja Cat – “Planet Her”
GIVÄ’ON – “When It’s All Said And Done”… Take Time”
H.E.R. – “Back of my Mind”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Heaux Tales”
Queen Naija – “missunderstood”
Favorite R&B Song
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) – “Leave The Door Open”
Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
GIVÄ’ON – “Heartbreak Anniversary”
H.E.R. – “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Favorite Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Rauw Alejandro
Favorite Female Latin Artist
Becky G
Kali Uchis
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÃA
Favorite Latin Duo or Group
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón De Rene Camacho
Los Dos Carnales
Favorite Latin Album
Bad Bunny – “EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO”
Kali Uchis – “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)”
KAROL G – “KG0516”
Maluma – “PAPI JUANCHO”
Rauw Alejandro – “AfrodisÃaco”
Favorite Latin Song
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez – “DÃKITI”
Bad Bunny x ROSALÃA – “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE”
Farruko – “Pepas”
Kali Uchis – “telepatÃa”
Maluma & The Weeknd – “Hawái (Remix)”
Favorite Rock Artist
AJR
All Time Low
Foo Fighters
Glass Animals
Machine Gun Kelly
Favorite Inspirational Artist
CAIN
Carrie Underwood
Elevation Worship
Lauren Daigle
Zach Williams
Favorite Gospel Artist
Kanye West
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Maverick City Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist
David Guetta
ILLENIUM
Marshmello
Regard
Tiësto