With 20 and 17 entries respectively, Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen are the leading country finalists at the 2023 BBMAs, but first-timer Zach Bryan isn’t fair behind with 14. Luke Combs has ten entries in this year’s BBMA categories. All four of these artists find themselves not only competing in the country categories, but also all-genre ones as well. First-time finalist Bailey Zimmerman is also represented in both all-genre and country categories.
Fellow BBMA newcomer and Top New Artist finalist Jelly Roll made a big impact in rock as he earned entries for Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album (Whitsett Chapel), and Top Rock Song (“Need a Favor”). Alongside him in the rock album category is HARDY with his dual-genre project the mockingbird & THE CROW. And, powered by his much-discussed single “Try That in a Small Town,” Jason Aldean competes in all-genre categories for Top Song Sales Artist and Top Selling Song.
Look for Morgan Wallen to perform “98 Braves,” from his Top Country Album and Top Billboard 200 Album finalist One Thing At A Time, at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. The performance is set for 8/7c.
The 2023 Billboard Music Awards take place on Sunday, November 19, via BBMAs.watch and Billboard and the BBMAs respective social channels. Winners are determined by the year-end Billboard chart metrics during the tracking period of November 4, 2022 through October 12, 2023. For more including finalists in other genres, visit BillboardMusicAwards.com.
Top Country Artist
Bailey Zimmerman
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Country Male Artist
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Zach Bryan
Top Country Female Artist
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group
Old Dominion
Parmalee
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Touring Artist
George Strait
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Album
Luke Combs, Gettin’ Old
Luke Combs, Growin’ Up
Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak
Top Country Song
Bailey Zimmerman, “Rock and a Hard Place”
Luke Combs, “Fast Car”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
Morgan Wallen, “You Proof”
Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
Artists Competing in Other Categories:
Jason Aldean – Top Songs Sales Artist, Top Selling Song (“Try That in a Small Town”)
Oliver Anthony Music – Top Song Sales Artist, Top Selling Song (“Rich Men North of Richmond”)
Zach Bryan – Top New Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Hot 100 Producer, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album (American Heartbreak), Top Streaming Song (“Something in the Orange”), Top Rock Song (“I Remember Everything” ft. Kacey Musgraves), Top Rock Song “Something in the Orange”)
Luke Combs – Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200, Top Hot 100
HARDY – Top Rock Album (the mockingbird & THE CROW)
Kacey Musgraves – Top Rock Song (“I Remember Everything,” her feature with Zach Bryan)
Jelly Roll – Top New Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album (Whitsitt Chapel), Top Rock Song (“Need a Favor”)
Taylor Swift – Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Hot 100 Producer, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Billboard Global 200 Artist, Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (Midnights), Top Hot 100 Song (“Anti-Hero”), Top Streaming Song (“Anti-Hero”), Top Radio Song (“Anti-Hero”), Top Selling Song (“Anti-Hero”), Top Billboard Global 200 Song (“Anti-Hero”)
Morgan Wallen – Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200, Top Hot 100, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Billboard Global 200 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (One Thing at a Time), Top Hot 100 Song (“Last Night”), Top Streaming Song (“Last Night”)
Bailey Zimmerman – Top New Artist
Image: Republic Records/UMG (Taylor Swift), Big Loud Records (Morgan Wallen), Warner Records (Zach Bryan), Sony Music Nashville (Luke Combs)