Jonathan Landrum Jr
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Doja Cat could make the BET Awards her world later this month. The chart-topping performer scored six nominations at the show airing live on June 26 from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
Doja Cat is up for best female R&B-pop artiste, best female hip-hop artiste, album of the year for her number one hit Planet Her and BET Her for Woman. Her Kiss Me More with SZA is nominated for video of the year and best collaboration.
Drake and Ari Lennox are the second-most nominated acts, scoring four nods each. Three nominations went to several others including Baby Keem, Silk Sonic, Chloe Bailey, Future, HER, Jazmine Sullivan, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J Blige and Tems.
Actor Taraji P Henson (Empire) will host the BET Awards for a second consecutive year.
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.
Drake will battle Kendrick Lamar, Future, J Cole, Jack Harlow, Ye and Lil Baby for best male hip-hop artiste. Doja Cat will face off against Cardi B, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj and Saweetie for best female hip-hop artiste.
WNBA star Brittney Griner, whose pre-trial detention in Russia was recently extended by a one month, is nominated for sportswoman of the year. The two-time Olympic gold medalist – who plays for the Phoenix Mercury – was detained at a Moscow airport in February after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage. She faces drug smuggling charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Griner is nominated in the same category as Candace Parker, Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Sha’Carri Richardson and Simone Biles.
