Taylor Swift and Sam Smith lead Billboard nominations

7 April 2015

Taylor Swift and Sam Smith lead the early nominations for the Billboard Music Awards, announced earlier today on Good Morning America.

Taylor Swift

The pair are both in the running for four out of five of the biggest prizes of the night, it was revealed by Ludacris and Pete Wentz this morning.

Both stars will do battle against Ariana Grande, One Direction and Katy Perry for the Top Artist prize, and also go head-to-head for the Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Hot 100 Song, with Taylor's '1989' and 'Shake It Off' nominated in those categories against Sam's 'In the Lonely Hour' and 'Stay With Me'.

In addition, Taylor will compete for Top Female Artist alongside Katy, Ariana Grande and fellow Top Hot 100 Song nominees Iggy Azalea and Meghan Trainor.

Sam is up for Top Male Artist alongside another British singer and Top Billboard 200 Album nominee, Ed Sheeran, with Drake, Pharrell Williams and Justin Timberlake also in line for the prize.

The remaining 36 categories will be announced throughout this morning on the event's official Twitter page by Chrissy Teigen - who will co-host the ceremony with Ludacris - and 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett.

The 2015 Billboard Music Awards take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, and the show will simulcast on ABC.