Believe it or not the 2018 American Music Awards have rolled around, and we’re definitely #notready. Nominations were released just last month, with Cardi B and Drake both getting the most nominations at 8 each. Don’t forget to tune in on ABC Tuesday, October 9, 2018 as the show airs live. Check out our list of top 9 performers that we’re most excited to see.
1. Carrie Underwood
Since her fall last year, which resulted in some scars on her face, Carrie Underwood has been keeping busy with the release of her newest album Cry Pretty, spearheaded by her single of the same name, and mentoring contestants on the latest season of American Idol. We can’t wait to see the country queen perform, hopefully, a few songs from her new album, and nab another award as the Favorite Female Artist in country.
2. Taylor Swift
We got so excited when we found out that Queen Taylor Swift would be opening the 2018 AMAs. Never in our Wildest Dreams did we expect to get this amazing opportunity to see the singer as the show’s opener. Are we … Ready for It? Probably not, but we cannot wait. Swift, who will be making her return to the AMAs as a performer since 2014, will be performing “I Did Something Bad.”
3. Shawn Mendes with Zedd
It’s the collab we never knew we needed…but has us in Stitches. Shawn Mendes and Zedd will be performing a remix of, Lost in Japan, the first-ever performance of the song! The duo make a powerful team and fans can look forward to their part of the show.
4. Mariah Carey
Powerhouse vocal Mariah Carey deserves more than anyone to sit back and enjoy her success, but she continues to prove that no one can top her in the music industry. She has recently taken up a concert residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas titled The Butterfly Returns, which started in July of 2018. Carey also recently announced that she plans to release her fifteenth album in her career, starting with her new single “GTFO.” Honestly, we already feel so blessed anticipating the presence of the queen herself.
5. Cardi B with Bad Bunny and J Balvin
Puerto Rican Bad Bunny attended college, worked as a bagger and made a name for himself as a Latin trap and reggaeton singer on SoundCloud. Another Latin American artist, J Balvin is a Colombian reggaeton singer who sings mostly in Spanish who wants to bring Spanish-language music to the masses. Both artists seem to be on the right track of achieving after collaborating with Cardi B on her debut album Invasion of Privacy on the song “I Like It.” They’ll most likely perform this top-charting song, and get us all on our feet dancing.
6. Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa hasn’t just established New Rules, she’s been nominated for New Artist of the Year. The talented singer and songwriter will be taking center stage to perform the songs that have placed her at the top. While she may be considered a relatively newer face in the industry, her powerful vocals and dominant stage presence prove that she’s no amateur. If there’s one thing we know for sure, Dua Lipa is ready to slay.
7. Camila Cabello
With 5 nominations under her belt, Camila Cabello has promised fans on an IG post that she’ll “eat 10 buckets of fried chicken and post a video” if they vote for her. If you don’t want to miss out this opportunity, get voting! The singer is another performer to anticipate in this star-studded lineup.
8. Jennifer Lopez
After judging and producing World of Dance, J. Lo has many acting projects in the works such as a T.V. show with HBO and a new rom-com Second Act. Lopez is also currently working on making her second full-length Spanish album, and we’re so hyped for that to drop anytime soon. Let’s be honest, we can’t wait to see this famous singer show us her best moves on the stage.
9. Benny Blanco with Halsey and Khalid
After singing with The Chainsmokers on “Closer” in 2016, Halsey has only gained more traction and success with her smoky, sultry voice. After winning several “Top New Artist” awards in 2017 and 2018, Khalid returns with four nominations at the AMAs. Tying together is Benny Blanco, a well-known songwriter and producer, who has already worked with countless of big names in the industry like Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber. His latest song with Halsey and Khalid “Eastside” is his first song under his name as a solo artist, and the performance will definitely showcase the promise of these new talents.
Don’t forget to watch the AMAs on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 on ABC to catch all these amazing artists and check back on HerCampus.com for our full American Music Awards coverage!