Nicki Minaj will open the 2017 Billboard Music Awards with an epic nine minute performance featuring special guests Lil Wayne, Jason Derulo and David Guetta. 2017 marks the fourth appearance for Minaj on the Billboard Music Awards stage, as well as her first television performance since breaking Aretha Franklin’s long-standing record for Female Artist charting the most songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
Ludacris and Vanessa Hudgens will host the 2017 Billboard Music Awards along with previously announced performers on the broadcast Camila Cabello, The Chainsmokers, Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion, Drake, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Sam Hunt, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Lorde, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran and 2017 Billboard Music Awards ICON Award recipient, Cher.
The 2017 Billboard Music Awards will broadcast live on both coasts from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 21st at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on ABC.
Fans can still vote online and on Twitter for Billboard Chart Achievement Award presented by Xfinity and Top Social Artist. Voting for both categories will remain open until May 21st at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT (one hour into the live broadcast).
Drake and The Chainsmokers lead the pack with 22 nominations each, tying the all-time record for most nominations in a single year. Twenty One Pilots received the third most nominations, at 17, with Rihanna placing fourth with 14 nominations.
Billboard Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the reporting period of March 18, 2016 through March 16, 2017. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of songs and albums, and are the ultimate measure of success in music.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at axs.com.
