Now Playing
ABC/Ida Mae AstuteThis year’s top Billboard Music Award nominees are R&B and rap artists, so it’s convenient that a rapper and an R&B singer — Ludacris and Ciara — are hosting this year’s show, which airs May 22 on ABC, live from Las Vegas.
The Weeknd is this year’s leading nominee, with nods in 16 categories, while Drake and Fetty Wap have scored 10 nods each. Asked about this year’s BBMAs being a great one for hip-hop and R&B, Luda told ABC Radio, “Man, I feel like hip-hop in general, and just music, is forever evolving, so I’m excited, because both of us being artists for so long, we just love to see the cultures just continue to push towards excellence.”
He added, “You know, it’s different genres merging together. It seems like music is getting better and better.”
Ciara, meanwhile, is happy to see artists like Adele and Taylor Swift scoring eight nods apiece, and other top female stars like Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding, Rihanna and Demi Lovato all being recognized as well in the nominations.
“It’s always great when us women get to rock,” she told ABC Radio after she and Luda announced the nominees this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America. “And these women — you hear their names so much throughout the nominees, so I’m just happy for all the ladies and just for everyone doing it.”
She added, “It’s a huge accomplishment when you get nominated, you know, for shows like this so I’m happy for all those women.”
While Luda is now an old hand at hosting the Billboard Music Awards, this is Ciara’s first time doing it, and she says she’s going to lean on Luda for advice.
“I actually hit him up the other day to ask him a few pointers on how all it goes and I definitely am gonna have him on speed dial a lot during this process because he is a true pro at it,” she tells ABC Radio. “But he’s awesome. He honestly makes this process very fun and easy. So far, day one, it’s been very light and just good energy, so it’s gonna be awesome!”
Performers and presenters at the award show will be announced in the coming weeks.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
awards awesome Billboard ciara Gonna hosts its ludacris music nominees show
