This year’s Black Music Month kicked off with nominations for the 2022 BET Awards.
Leading the R&B pack in three categories is Ari Lennox, who received four nods. The Washington, D.C. native’s hit single “Pressure” scored two acknowledgments, including Video of the Year and Bet Her. She is a two-time nominee in the latter field, earning the other with Summer Walker for “Unloyal.”
Anticipated nominees include Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R., and Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak), who landed three each. They’ll compete in the Album of the Year category for their respective releases.
Mary J. Blige, who carried home the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, is also up for three trophies, including Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.
Chlöe garnered three first-time solo nominations, including Video of the Year for “Have Mercy.” The emerging singer-songwriter also shares a Best Group nod with her sister Halle Bailey as Chloe x Halle.
Muni Long holds it down in the Best New Artist category. The fast-rising superstar is celebrating a breakout year for the viral single “Hrs and Hrs.”
Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, the 2022 BET Awards will take place on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at 8 p.m. EST.
See the partial list of 2022 BET Awards nominations below.
Album of the Year
Silk Sonic — An Evening With Silk Sonic
H.E.R. — Back Of My Mind
Tyler, The Creator — Call Me If You Get Lost
Drake — Certified Lover Boy
Kanye West — Donda
Jazmine Sullivan — Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe
Doja Cat — Planet Her
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Chlöe
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Mary J. Blige
Summer Walker
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Chris Brown
Givēon
Lucky Daye
The Weeknd
WizKid
Yung Bleu
Best New Artist
Baby Keem
Benny The Butcher
Latto
Muni Long
Tems
Yung Bleu
Best Group
Silk Sonic
Chloe x Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos
Young Dolph & Key Glock
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Marvin Sapp — “All In Your Hands”
Kanye West — “Come To Life”
Kelly Price — ”Grace”
Fred Hammond — ”Hallelujah”
H.E.R. & Tauren Wells — “Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)”
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music — “Jireh”
Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin — “We Win”
BET Her Award
Alicia Keys — ”Best Of Me (Originals)”
Mary J. Blige — “Good Morning Gorgeous”
Chlöe — “Have Mercy”
Ari Lennox — ”Pressure”
Jazmine Sullivan — “Roster”
Summer Walker & Ari Lennox — ”Unloyal”
Doja Cat — “Woman”
Best Collaboration
WizKid featuring Justin Bieber & Tems — “Essence“
DJ Khaled featuring Lil Baby & Lil Durk — “Every Chance I Get”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar — “Family Ties”
Doja Cat featuring SZA — “Kiss Me More”
Drake featuring Future & Young Thug — “Way 2 Sexy”
Bia featuring Nicki Minaj — “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”
Video of the Year
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar — “Family Ties”
Chlöe — “Have Mercy”
Doja Cat featuring SZA — “Kiss Me More”
Ari Lennox — ”Pressure”
Silk Sonic — ”Smokin Out The Window”
Drake featuring Future & Young Thug — “Way 2 Sexy”
Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak
Benny Boom
Beyoncé & Dikayl Rimmasch
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott
Best Movie
Candyman
King Richard
Respect
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Summer Of Soul
The Harder They Fall
Best Actress
Aunjanue Ellis — King Richard
Coco Jones — Bel Air
Issa Rae — Insecure
Jennifer Hudson — Respect
Mary J. Blige — Power Book II: Ghost
Queen Latifah — The Equalizer
Quinta — Brunson Abbott Elementary
Regina — King The Harder They Fall
Zendaya — Euphoria | Spider-Man: No Way Home
Check out the full list of nominations here.
