Cardi B was announced as the host of this year’s edition of the American Music Awards, after five of her own wins – and 10 other nominations – over the years.
The news comes after the nominees announced for WADA 2021 last week, with Olivia Rodrigo and The Weeknd leading the pack. Cardi is up for three awards this year, winning nominations for Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist, Favorite Hip-Hop Song and Favorite Music Video (the last two for her single ‘Up’).
“When I got the invitation to host AMAs, I was so excited,” Cardi said in today’s announcement (November 2). “I’m ready to bring my personality to the AMA scene! Thanks to Jesse Collins, ABC and MRC for making this possible.
Collins, executive producer of AMAs, echoed his enthusiasm. In his own statement, he said, “We are extremely excited that dynamic Cardi B is bringing her infectious energy to the American Music Awards as a host for the first time. She will excite viewers, push boundaries and deliver a show that will be remembered forever!
Cardi’s performance at the ceremony will mark her second in as many years after she stepped onto the AMA stage in 2018 to perform “I Like It” alongside J Balvin and Bad Bunny.
Billboard also pointed out that Cardi’s stint as host will make 2021 the fifth year in a row that AMAs have had a black host, following actress Tracee Ellis Ross (animated in 2017 and 2018), R&B artist Ciara ( 2019) and actress Taraji P. Henson (2020).
This year’s ceremony will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on November 21, broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET (1 a.m. GMT) and air the following day on Hulu.
The 2021 American Music Awards cover the period from September 25, 2020 to September 23, 2021.
Three new categories were added – Favorite Trending Song, Favorite Gospel Artist and Favorite Latin Duo or Group – while three were also removed. They are Favorite Social Artist, Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary, and Favorite Soundtrack.
The full list of nominees for the 2021 American Music Awards is as follows:
Artist of the year
Ariana Grande
BTS
Duck
Olivia rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The weekend
New Artist of the Year
24kGold
Overlook
Masked wolf
Olivia rodrigo
Kid LAROI
Collaboration of the year
24kGoldn ft. Iann Dior, “Mood”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, ‘DÁKITI’
Chris Brown & Young Thug, ‘Go Crazy’
Doja Cat ft. SZA, ‘Kiss Me More’
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon, ‘Peaches’
Favorite Trending Song
Erica Banks, ‘Buss It’
Måneskin, ‘Begin’ ‘
Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Body’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘driving 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, ‘driving license’
The Weeknd, ‘Save your tears’
Favorite Male Pop Artist
Duck
Ed sheeran
Justin bieber
Lil Nas X
The weekend
Favorite female pop artist
Ariana Grande
Doja cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia rodrigo
Taylor Swift
Favorite duo or pop group
AJR
BTS
Glass animals
Bordeaux 5
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Favorite pop album
Ariana Grande, “Positions”
Dua Lipa, “Future Nostalgia”
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘SOUR’
Taylor Swift, “forever”
The Kid LAROI, ‘F * CK LOVE’
Favorite pop song
BTS, ‘Butter’
Doja Cat ft. SZA, ‘Kiss Me More’
Dua Lipa, ‘Levitation’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘driving license’
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears (Remix)”
Favorite Male Country Artist
Chris Stapleton
Jason aldean
Luke Bryan
Luc Combs
Morgan wallen
Favorite female country artist
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kacey musgraves
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Preferred country duo or group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Lady A
Former Domination
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 and Kane Brown, “Famous Friends”
Gabby Barrett, “The Good”
Luke Combs, “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist
Duck
little baby
Money bag Yo
Polo G
Pop Smoke
Favorite female hip-hop artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Erica Banks
Megan you 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 Vis 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, “Call my phone”
Polo G, ‘RAPSTAR’
Pop Smoke, “What You Know About Love”
Favorite R&B Male Artist
Chris Brown
Overlook
Tank
The weekend
Bailiff
Favorite female R&B artist
Doja cat
HER
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA
Favorite R&B Album
Cat Doja, ‘Planet Her’
Giveon, ‘When all is said and done … Take the time’
ELLE, ‘Back of My Mind’
Jazmine Sullivan, ‘Heaux Tales’
Queen Naija, “misunderstood”
Favorite R&B song
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave the door open”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, ‘Go Crazy’
Giveon, “Anniversary of Sorrow”
SHE, ‘Too bad’
Jazmine Sullivan, ‘Pick up your feelings’
Favorite Latin Male Artist
Bad bunny
J. Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Rauw Alejandro
Favorite Female Latin Artist
Becky g
Kali Uchis
KAROL G
Natti Natacha
ROSALÍA
Latin duo or group preferred
Banda MS by Sergio Lizárraga
Caliber 50
Eslabon Armado
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón By 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, “Afrodisíaco”
Favorite Latin song
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, ‘DÁKITI’
Bad Bunny x ROSALÍA, ‘LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE’
Farruko, ‘Pepas’
Kali Uchis, “telepathy”
Maluma & The Weeknd, ‘Hawaii (Remix)’
Favorite rock artist
AJR
Lower than ever
Foo fighters
Glass animals
Kelly machine gun
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
Concerning
Tiësto
The Weeknd also led the nominations ahead of the 2020 AMAs. He ended up taking home three trophies and was one of the big winners of the night, alongside Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.
