The nominees for this year’s BET Awards were announced on Monday, May 15, and Beyoncé is the leading artist with seven nominations for her acclaimed ‘Lemonade’ visual album. Bruno Mars is right behind with five nominations, followed by Solange, Migos, and Chance the Rapper, with four nods each.
Beyoncé’s nominations include Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best Collaboration for her epic Kendrick Lamar collab “Freedom” and her feature alongside her husband Jay Z in DJ Khaled’s “Shining,” Album of the Year, and Video of the Year. The pop star is the most nominated and winning artist in the show’s 17-year-history.
Last year, the singers polarizing “Formation” video won Video of the Year. This year it’s the turn for her amazing “Sorry” video, which features Serena Williams looking as breathtaking as ever. The video, co-directed by herself and Kahlil Joseph, is up against Big Sean’s “Bounce Back,” Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic,” Solange’s “Cranes in the Sky” and viral “Bad and Boujee” from Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert.
As for Bruno Mars, he’s also up for Album of the Year and Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, competing with Chris Brown, The Weeknd, Trey Songz, and Usher. Chance the Rapper, on the other side, is up for Best New Artist and Album of the Year for his acclaimed ‘Coloring Book.’
The Knowles sisters are head to head in three different categories
Solange’s applauded ‘A Seat at the Table’ album scored the singer her first BET nominations since 2009. Three out of four nominations are up against her sister, including Best Female R&B/Pop artist, Video of the Year and Album of the Year.
Both sisters released important pieces of art, exploring motifs of Black womanhood, police violence, and resistance. Most of the lists around the globe for best albums of 2016 include ‘Lemonade’ and ‘A Seat at the Table’ on the top positions.
While Beyoncé’s album got 9 nominations at the 59th Grammy Awards, winning Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Music Video, Solange’s third album got her her first Grammy nomination and win for Best R&B Performance.
The BET Awards recognize black excellence in music, film, TV, sports and philanthropy. In film, ‘Hidden Figures’ is competing for Best Movie against four other projects, all from Black directors: ‘Fences,’ ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Get Out’ and ‘The Birth of a Nation.’
Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Venus and Serena Williams are the nominees for the Sportswoman of the Year award.
The winners in the 19 categories will be selected by BET’s Voting Academy, comprised of entertainment professionals and fans. The ceremony will air live June 25 from the Microsoft Theater at 8 p.m. EST.
Take a look at a partial list of nominees for the 2017 BET Awards
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Beyoncé
- Kehlani
- Mary J. Blige
- Rihanna
- Solange
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown
- The Weeknd
- Trey Songz
- Usher
Best Group
- 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
- A Tribe Called Quest
- Fat Joe & Remy Ma
- Migos
- Rae Sremmurd
Best Collaboration
- Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar – “Freedom”
- Chance the Rapper featuring 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne – “No Problem”
- Chris Brown featuring Gucci Mane & Usher – “Party”
- DJ Khaled featuring Beyoncé & Jay Z – “Shining”
- Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad and Boujee”
- Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane – “Black Beatles”
Best Male Hip-hop Artist
- Big Sean
- Chance the Rapper
- Drake
- Future
- Cole
- Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip-hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Missy Elliott
- Nicki Minaj
- Remy Ma
- Young M.A.
Video of the Year
- Beyoncé – “Sorry”
- Big Sean – “Bounce Back”
- Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
- Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad and Boujee”
- Solange – “Cranes in the Sky”
Video Director of the Year
- Benny Boom: Kehlani – “CRZY”
- Bruno Mars & Jonathan Lia: Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”
- Director X: Zayn Malik – “Like I Would”
- Hype Williams: Tyga – “Gucci Snakes ft. Desiigner”
- Kahlil Joseph & Beyoncé Knowles-Carter: Beyoncé – “Sorry”
Best New Artist
- 21 Savage
- Cardi B
- Chance the Rapper
- Khalid
- Young M.A.
Album of the Year
- Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
- J. Cole – “4 Your Eyez Only”
- Solange – “A Seat at the Table”
- Chance the Rapper – “Coloring Book”
- Beyoncé – “Lemonade”
Here’s the complete list of nominees.