Eminem, Rihanna, Lady Gaga Lead 2011 Billboard Music Awards Nominations

Between the handful of smash singles spawned by her fifth album Loud and her highly anticipated  tour this summer, Rihanna is having quite the year. Now, she can add a whopping 18 nominations for the 2011 Billboard Music Awards to her already impressive resume.


The full list of nominees dropped earlier last week, and the Barbadian singer leads all artists with nods in most of the major categories, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top 100 Artist and Top R&B Artist. Former collaborator Eminem is right behind her with 16 noms, including half a dozen for their chart-topping tag-team effort “Love the Way You Lie.”

Queen of Weird, Lady Gaga, will also have the chance to score up to twelve statuettes when the 2011 BMAs are handed out on Sunday, May 22. Other finalists includeUsher, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Drake and Ke$ha.

Congratulations to all the nominees!