Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny rose through the ranks in just a few short years, rising from relative obscurity in Puerto Rico to one of the hottest stars in music today. At the 2022 American Music Awards, Bad Bunny leads the total number of nominations, ahead of major English-speaking artists like Beyoncé, Drake and Taylor Swift.
Bad Bunny is nominated for eight AMAs
Bad Bunny was nominated for his first American Music Awards in 2019 after releasing his debut studio album X100pre end of 2018. He won the AMA for Best Latin Male Artist that year. 2020 has been an even bigger year for him, starting the year by appearing alongside Shakira on the Super Bowl LIV halftime show and releasing three hit albums throughout the year. Two of these albums, YHLQMDLG and Las Que No Iban a Salirwere in the running for Favorite Latin Album, with YHLQMDLG winning the prize. In 2021, he won Best Latin Male Artist and Favorite Latin Album for his 2020 album El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo.
Bad Bunny set records in 2022 with his fourth studio album A Verano Sin Ti. The hit album earned the reggaeton star eight total nominations at the 2022 American Music Awards. Bad Bunny is up for Artist of the Year, Favorite Touring Artist, Favorite Male Pop Artist and favorite male Latin artist. A Verano Sin Ti is nominated for Favorite Pop Album and Favorite Latin Album. “Me Porto Bonito”, his A Verano Sin Ti single which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, is up for Favorite Music Video and Favorite Latin Song.
Bad Bunny has more AMA nominations than Beyoncé, Drake and Taylor Swift
With eight nominations in total, Bad Bunny leads the field of artists nominated at this year’s AMAs.
Beyoncé, Drake and Taylor Swift all have six nominations to their name this year. Beyoncé has released her highly anticipated album Renaissancehis first solo project in six years, in July 2022, as Drake releases his album Honestly it doesn’t matter the preceding month. Taylor Swift’s re-recorded album Red (Taylor’s version)released in November 2021, continues to rack up award nominations.
Behind them are Adele, Harry Styles and The Weeknd, with five nominations each. Adele has released her own highly anticipated comeback album 30 in November 2021. Harry Styles released his hit album Harry’s house in the spring, when The Weeknd released his album Dawn FM at the top of 2022.
He could equal a record set by Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston
With eight total nominations, Bad Bunny has the potential to equal a long-standing record held by the late Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. The two superstar artists set a record by winning eight American Music Awards in one night. If Bad Bunny sweeps all the categories in which he is nominated, the reggaetonero will join these legends in the exclusive club of eight victories.
The American Music Awards will air live on Sunday, November 20 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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