Zach Bryan leads the pack at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards with 21 nominations, followed by Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen, signaling a country music takeover.
“I feel like this is exactly what we need because at the end of the day, music is music and it can transcend neighborhood, religion, gender and so many things,” comedian and Billboard Music Awards host Michelle Buteau told Fox News. Digital.
Bryan and Wallen are both nominated in the Top Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, and Top Billboard 100 and 200 categories, as well as Top Country Artist and Country Male Artist, among other nominations.
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Zach Bryan (left) and Morgan Wallen dominate the 2024 Billboard Music Awards nominations. (Getty Images)
Buteau continued, “I think it’s about time. And music is also one of those things… that brings people together, just like comedy. I love when a song comes out that people think I shouldn’t know. the words , but I do it. And then we sing it together. And that’s quite a moment. And honestly, for me it always comes down to art and culture, period.
Buteau, a longtime comedian who has hosted shows like “The Circle” on Netflix and appeared in films like “Marry Me” and “Babes,” said she was thrilled to be asked to host the show.
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“It’s wild when you can watch something all the time. And then to actually be in it and have a good time and be like, I want to do this all the time. It’s amazing. I think, how can I do this?” get my Ryan Seacrest in a plus-size dress?” she said.
Comedian Michelle Buteau will host the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. (Netflix)
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Although Swift isn’t leading the nominations at this year’s ceremony, she is the most decorated female BBMA artist of all time, another honor in addition to her incredible two-year career. on “The Eras Tour.”
“Music is music at the end of the day, and it can transcend neighborhood, religion, gender, so many things.”
“Honestly, can we just give a round of applause for Taylor? All her hard work and those good knees. I mean, it’s not easy,” Buteau joked. “I’m walking my dogs and I have to bend down to catch their situations. And I thought, wow, you can really stretch more often. Taylor does it here for anyone and everyone, all over the world.”
“She fills the room with love. So you know, it’s not in the nominations. It’s in the feeling,” she added.
Buteau praised Taylor Swift for her hard work on “The Eras Tour.” (Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
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As a host, Buteau said it’s easy to remain neutral about who she’s advocating for, ultimately feeling like “the audience will tell you who they’re responding to.”
“But at the end of the day, they’re just great artists that we shake our boots to, you know what I mean? So no matter what, you can’t lose. Besides, we never lose. We only lose learning,” she added.
The BBMAs will feature performances from many of the nominees, including country stars Shaboozey, Jelly roll and Megan Moroney, as well as Coldplay, Linkin Park, Tyla, Teddy Swims and K-pop stars SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids.
Coldplay is among the artists set to take the stage for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. (Anna Lee)
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Buteau, mother of five-year-old twins with husband Gijs van der Most, is ready to enjoy the show even though she works.
“My husband is going to ‘babysit’ so I can go to work and see all these amazing artists that I only really listen to in my minivan when I pick up the kids. So I mean, even the fact that someone I’m going to get water and a bring me a meal. And wine, are you kidding me?’
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Buteau did make it Beyoncé’s “Renaissance Tour” date in Amsterdam with her husband for Father’s Day, but didn’t make it to “The Eras Tour.”
Buteau missed Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’, but made it to Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance Tour’. (Getty Images)
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But like many people, she experienced it through social media “because I can live vicariously through everyone’s Insta stories.”
“I love it when people report on these little cute moments of Taylor bringing her boyfriend on stage and so in London, all those things make me feel like I’m part of it too. And so I really like a really long tour, because I feel like I know a lot about it,” Buteau said.
Buteau experienced “The Eras Tour” via social media, including big moments like Travis Kelce’s surprise performance at one of Swift’s London performances. (Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
She added: “I have all the bracelets, I do all the things. My daughter and I still sing ‘Cruel Summer’ on the way to school.”
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The 2024 Billboard Music Awards will air Thursday evening on FOX.
