The Weeknd is top nominee for iHeartRadio Music Awards
LOS ANGELES >> The Weeknd, Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch are among the top nominees for next month’s iHeartRadio Music Awards.
The Weeknd’s eight nominations include male artist of the year, competing with Ricch, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber and Post Malone, and song of the year for “Blinding Lights.”
Ricch and Megan Thee Stallion earned seven nods each, including hip-hop artist of the year. Also competing in the category are DaBaby, Lil Baby and Pop Smoke.
Megan Thee Stallion is a contender for female artist of the year, alongside Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift, according to Wednesday’s announcement for the May 27 awards airing on Fox.
The ceremony will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, an exception to a pandemic-forced run of largely virtual awards shows in the past year. The 2020 iHeartRadio awards telecast was canceled, with winners announced on radio.
Other song of the year nominees are Malone’s “Circles”; Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now”; “Rockstar” from DaBaby and featuring Ricch, and Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar.”
Dr. Luke, who’s enjoyed a creative renewal with hits including Doja Cat’s “Say So” and earned his first Grammy nod this year in seven years, was nominated as producer of the year. Competing with Dr. Luke, who remains embroiled in a lawsuit with Kesha, are Andrew Watt, Frank Dukes, Louis Bell and Max Martin.
Nominees for Latin pop or reggaeton artist of the year are Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Karol G, Maluma and Ozuna.
McBride’s ‘Deacon King Kong’ wins Gotham prize
NEW YORK >> James McBride’s latest honor for the novel “Deacon King Kong” is a real New York story.
McBride’s fictional snapshot of a Brooklyn neighborhood in late 1969 has won the inaugural Gotham Book Prize, given for outstanding writing about New York City. This year, McBride has also won the Anisfield-Wolf fiction award, given to a book that addresses racism and diversity, and a Carnegie Medal for fiction, presented by the American Library Association.
McBride will receive $50,000 for the Gotham prize, for which judges ranged from filmmaker Ric Burns to former New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott. McBride is also known for his millionselling memoir “The Color of Water” and the historical novel “Good Lord Bird,” winner of the National Book Award.
“It’s a thrill to be honored in your own hometown; it’s like having your very own parade,” McBride said in a statement Tuesday.
Today’s birthdays
Comedian Shecky Greene is 95. Actor John Schneider is 61. “Survivor” winner Richard Hatch is 60. Singer Julian Lennon is 58. Actor Robin Wright is 55. Actor Patricia Arquette is 53.