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Backstage Country

Morgan, Luke, Zach: Country Billboard Award Nominations

The nominations for the 2023 Billboard Music Awards have been announced and country music finds itself in many of the all genre categories, as well as in several rock categories….

Morgan Wallen in a gray suit, Luke Combs in a maroon blazer and Zach Bryan in a blue suit
Matt Winklemeyer, Jason Kempin x2/Getty Images

The nominations for the 2023 Billboard Music Awards have been announced and country music finds itself in many of the all genre categories, as well as in several rock categories. The 2023 Billboard Music Awards take place on November 19, 2023. Performers and presenters will be announced soon.

Billboard Country Nominations:

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”

Billboard All-genre Nominees

Top Artist

Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift

Top New Artist

Bailey Zimmerman
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Peso Pluma
Zach Bryan

Top Male Artist

Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Zach Bryan

Top Billboard 200 Artist

Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift

Top Selling Song

Jason Aldean, “Try That in a Small Town”
Jimin, ‘Like Crazy”
Miley Cyrus,“Flowers”
Oliver Anthony Music, “Rich Men North of Richmond”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”

Top Hot 100 Artist

Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Songwriter (NEW)

Ashley Gorley
Jack Antonoff
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan

Top Hot 100 Producer (NEW)

Jack Antonoff
Joey Moi
Metro Boomin
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan

Top Streaming Songs Artist

Drake
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan

Top Radio Songs Artist

Miley Cyrus
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top Song Sales Artist

Jason Aldean
Miley Cyrus
Morgan Wallen
Oliver Anthony Music
Taylor Swift

Top Billboard Global 200 Artist

Bad Bunny
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top Billboard 200 Album

Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss
Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS
Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
SZA, SOS
Taylor Swift, Midnights

Top Hot 100 Song

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”

Top Streaming Song

Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”

Billboard Rock Nominations:

Top Rock Artist

Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Stephen Sanchez
Steve Lacy
Zach Bryan

Top Rock Album

HARDY, the mockingbird & THE CROW
Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel
Noah Kahan, Stick Season
Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights
Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak

Top Rock Song

Jelly Roll, “Need A Favor”
Stephen Sanchez, “Until I Found You”
Steve Lacy, “Bad Habit”
Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything”
Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”

As Morgan Wallen celebrates his 30th birthday today (5/13), he just shared with his fans that he has re-scheduled 10 out of the 16 tour dates that he postponed early this week. Morgan posted the news on his Instagram to the delight of his bid fan base.

While he wasn't in attendance at the ACM Awards earlier this week (5/11), Wallen did win the Male Artist of the Year honor given out by ACM co-host Garth Brooks.

Earlier this year, in March, Morgan revealed he is single. He said in a recent interview, "I had a girlfriend for a while. Not recently. That was the last one I had. I don't have anybody right now. It's kind of hard. Just how busy I've been. I got a son; an album, a tour; I've got all these things I do."

He added, "It's really hard for me to make time for that. I want to, though. I think I'm coming up on my 'settle down phase.' We'll see. I'm not in a hurry."

As Walen celebrates his big day working on improving his voice during his doctor-mandated vocal rest, we pause to look at 13 of his best songs.

13. "The Way I Talk" (2016)

The_Way_I_Talk_alt.jpgBig Loud

12. "Chasin' You" (2019)

Chasin_You.jpgBig Loud

11. "Wasted on You" (2022)

Wasted_on_You.jpeBig Loud

10. "This Bar" (2019)

This_Bar.jpe

9. "Somebody's Problem" (2020)

Dangerous_the_Double_Album.jpgBig Loud

8. "Don't Think Jesus" (2022)

Morgan_Wallen_-_Dont_Think_Jesus.pngBig Loud

7. "Still Goin' Down" (2020)

Dangerous_the_Double_Album-1.jpgBig Loud

6. "Up Down" (featuring Florida Georgia Line) (2017)

UpDownMorganWallen.pngBig Loud

5. "More Than My Hometown" (2020)

MorganWallenMoreThanMyHometown.jpgBig Loud

4. "Whiskey Glasses" (2018)

Whiskey_Glasses.pngBig Loud

3. "Flower Shops" (Ernest featuring Morgan Wallen) (2021)

Flower_Shops.jpgBig Loud

2. "7 Summers" (2020)

Morgan_Wallen_-_7_Summers.pngBig Loud

1. "Sand in My Boots" (2021)

Sand_in_My_Boots.jpeBig Loud

13. "The Way I Talk" (2016)

The_Way_I_Talk_alt.jpgBig Loud

12. "Chasin' You" (2019)

Chasin_You.jpgBig Loud

11. "Wasted on You" (2022)

Wasted_on_You.jpeBig Loud

10. "This Bar" (2019)

This_Bar.jpe

9. "Somebody's Problem" (2020)

Dangerous_the_Double_Album.jpgBig Loud

8. "Don't Think Jesus" (2022)

Morgan_Wallen_-_Dont_Think_Jesus.pngBig Loud

7. "Still Goin' Down" (2020)

Dangerous_the_Double_Album-1.jpgBig Loud

6. "Up Down" (featuring Florida Georgia Line) (2017)

UpDownMorganWallen.pngBig Loud

5. "More Than My Hometown" (2020)

MorganWallenMoreThanMyHometown.jpgBig Loud

4. "Whiskey Glasses" (2018)

Whiskey_Glasses.pngBig Loud

3. "Flower Shops" (Ernest featuring Morgan Wallen) (2021)

Flower_Shops.jpgBig Loud

2. "7 Summers" (2020)

Morgan_Wallen_-_7_Summers.pngBig Loud

1. "Sand in My Boots" (2021)

Sand_in_My_Boots.jpeBig Loud
Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.