If bro country is over, nobody told the Billboard Music Awards. Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton all dominated the country categories for this year.
Videos by Wide Open Country
And only two female acts earned any recognition in country categories at all, save for collaborations. The Dixie Chicks landed a nomination for Top Country Tour, while Little Big Town's "Better Man" earned a Top Country Song nomination.
Florida Georgia Line scored six nominations. That includes two in the Top Country Song categories. Their first is "H.O.L.Y.," the debut single from their third record. Their second, "May We All" featuring Tim McGraw, recently went to No. 1 on country radio. That tune also earned a Top Country Collaboration nomination.
The bro county duo also earned a Top Country Album nomination for Dig Your Roots. They also represent only one of two country acts to earn a nomination in general categories featuring pop artists. Florida Georgia Line compete with acts like Coldplay and Guns N Roses for Top Duo/Group. Seriously.
Oh yeah, and they got a Top Country Artist nomination, because why not?
Luke Bryan also managed to crack a field not specifically dedicated to country music. He's up against artists like Nicki Minaj and The Chainsmokers for the Billboard Chart Achievement Award. Probably because he made history as the first artist to take six singles from the same album to No. 1 on the Billboard country charts.
Blake Shelton hasn't received much love for his album If I'm Honest from the Grammys, ACM or CMA. But he did get a Top Country Artist and Top Country Album nomination from the BBMAs.
There's a small glimmer of hope in Chris Stapleton's nominations, though. The singer is nominated for Top Country Artist and Top Country Album (Traveller). Ironically, the awards air a few weeks after his second album comes out on May 5. Eric Church's "Kill A Word" featuring Rhiannon Giddens also scored a Top Country Collaboration nomination.
But perhaps the most disappointing thing? The way the Billboard Music Awards nominates artists is pretty objective. The BBMAs use a bunch of different metrics to determine nominees. Album and digital sales matter quite a bit. So does radio airplay, streaming, touring and social engagement.
READ MORE: Do Country Award Shows Matter?
So unlike other award shows that use voting bodies, the BBMAs leave most of the culpability on the fans who do or don't buy music. Get the full list of nominees here. The Billboard Music Awards air live on ABC on Sunday, May 21 at 7 p.m. central.
2017 Billboard Music Awards' Country Music Nominees:
Top Duo/Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Florida Georgia Line
Guns N' Roses
Twenty One Pilots
Top Country Artist:
Florida Georgia Line
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Dixie Chicks
Top Country Album:
Jason Aldean, They Don't Know
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Blake Shelton, If I'm Honest
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Keith Urban, Ripcord
Top Country Song:
Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, "Setting The World On Fire"
Florida Georgia Line, "H.O.L.Y."
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, "May We All"
Little Big Town, "Better Man"
Keith Urban, "Blue Ain't Your Color"
Top Country Collaboration:
Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King, "Different For Girls"
Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, "Setting The World On Fire"
Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens, "Kill A Word"
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, "May We All"
Chris Young Featuring Vince Gill, "Sober Saturday Night"
Top Christian Song:
Lauren Daigle, "Trust In You"
Hillary Scott & The Family, "Thy Will"
Skillet, "Feel Invincible"
Ryan Stevenson Featuring GabeReal, "Eye Of The Storm"
Zach Williams, "Chain Breaker"
Top Christian Album:
Casting Crowns, The Very Next Thing
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Joey + Rory, Hymns
Hillary Scott & The Family, Love Remains
Skillet, Unleashed
Top Christian Artist:
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong Worship
Hillary Scott & the Family
Skillet
Chris Tomlin
