Post Malone tops AMA nominations

NEW YORK — Post Malone is the top contender at the 2019 American Music Awards, where Taylor Swift has a chance to moonwalk past Michael Jackson’s record for most wins at the show.

Dick Clark productions announced Thursday that Malone scored seven nominations, while newcomer Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande each earned six nominations. Swift, who has won 23 AMAs, is up for five awards and could surpass the King of Pop, who holds the record for the most wins with 24 trophies.

The fan-voted AMAs will air live Nov. 24 on ABC from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Swift, Malone and Grande, along with Drake and Halsey, are nominated for artist of the year.

Malone’s nominations include favorite male pop/ rock artist, favorite rap/hiphop artist, favorite rap/hiphop album for “Hollywood’s Bleeding” and favorite rap/hip-hop song for “Wow.” His hit with Swae Lee, “Sunflower” from the Oscar-winning animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” is up for favorite pop/rock song and collaboration of the year.

Swift will compete for favorite female pop/rock artist, favorite adult contemporary artist, favorite pop/rock album for “Lover” and favorite music video for her Equal Rights anthem, “You Need to Calm Down.”

Lizzo’s nominations include favorite soul/R&B song for “Juice” and favorite female soul/R&B artist, pitting her against Beyoncé and Ella Mai. She has some stiff competition though: Nominees include Eilish, Lil Nas X, Luke Combs and Mai.