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Beyoncé, Bruno Mars Lead BET Awards Nominations
Beyoncé dominated last year’s BET Awards with Lemonade, but there’s more juice in her cup.
AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez – Beyoncé, Chris Martin, and Bruno Mars
“Super Bowl 50” Halftime Show, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
The pop star is nominated for seven awards at the 2017 BET Awards, the network told The Associated Press on Monday. The show will take place June 25 at the
Bruno Mars follows Beyoncé with five nominations.
Beyoncé, who won video of the year with “Formation” last year, is nominated for the top prize again with “Sorry.” Her competition includes her sister Solange (“Cranes In the Sky”); Mars’ playful “24K Magic”; Migos’ No. 1 hit “Bad and Boujee”; and Big Sean’s anthemic “Bounce Back.”
Beyoncé and Solange – who has four nominations – will go head-to-head for best female R&B/pop artist, along with Rihanna, Mary J. Blige and Kehlani. Beyoncé’s other nominations include album of the year for Lemonade, the viewer’s choice award and video director of the year. She’s nominated twice for best collaboration with the songs “Freedom” (with Kendrick Lamar) and “Shining” (shared with Jay Z and DJ Khaled).
The winners in the 19 categories, including film and sports awards, will be selected by BET’s Voting Academy, comprised of entertainment professionals and fans.
Mars, whose latest album was inspired by ‘90s R&B, is also nominated for best male R&B/pop artist, album of the year, the viewer’s choice award and video director of the year.
Chance the Rapper, who scored four nominations and won three Grammys this year, will battle Lamar, Drake, J. Cole, Future and Big Sean for best male hip-hop artist. Nicki Minaj will compete with rival
Hip-hop trio Migos also scored four nominations.