The Weeknd Named Top Artist at Billboard Music Awards
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The Weeknd was the big winner at Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards, taking home top artist honors.
He also won the first award handed out on the live telecast, for top Hot 100 artist. Appearing in a black suit and coat, he joked, “Thank God I don’t have to wear that red suit anymore,” a reference to the outfit worn by a “character” he appeared as for several months after dropping his album After Hours in various videos, late-night appearances, awards-show performances at performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. The continuing storyline followed a man on a night gone wrong, then on a violent streak, later with bandages showing first his injuries then later signaling a message about plastic surgery in Hollywood (in one video, he sings on stage after obvious facial surgery).
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The Weeknd also took home seven awards in several categories that were announced off-air prior to Sunday’s live telecast on NBC. The singer was named top male artist, top radio songs artist, top R&B artist and top R&B male artist. In addition, After Hours was named top R&B album, while his single “Blinding Lights” won for top radio song and top R&B song.
Later in the show, The Weeknd performed “Save Your Tears” in a Los Angeles parking lot, with drivers of several cars and 18-wheelers doing choreographed movements to the song.
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Lil Rel Howery presented The Weeknd with his top Hot 100 artist award, joking that he got Glenn Close to dance to “Da Butt” at the Oscars and said if he saw Barbra Streisand later Sunday night, he was going to get her to do the “Tootsie Roll.”
Meanwhile, DJ Khaled ft. H.E.R. and Migos kicked off the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on an outdoor stage in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday night with scores of fans in attendance.
The high-energy performance kicked off what BBMA host Nick Jonas told The Hollywood Reporter last week would be an in-person ceremony following all pandemic safety protocols, with about 500-600 attendees — which, it should be noted, is seemingly one of the largest audiences for a Hollywood awards show amid the pandemic thus far that features regular folks (the Golden Globes audience was filled with healthcare workers, while the Grammys and Oscars kept invitations to industry folks).
Jonas then came out on the outdoor stage Sunday night at L.A. Live and noted the past year has been “an insane rollercoaster ride” but reiterated his enthusiasm for being back in front of a live audience — all of whom appeared to be wearing masks. “We are live and there is a crowd to see our performance,” he said, adding: “We are making sure to follow all the proper public health and safety protocols.” He later noted, “I am having a very good time. It’s good to hear this crowd. I can’t get enough. It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. I haven’t left my house in almost a year and a half, and now we have this wonderful crowd. I love it.” (Several of the performances took place inside but it’s unclear if an audience was present, and an on-air chyron noted that portions of the show had been pre-recorded.)
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Bad Bunny was named top Latin artist during the live ceremony, and delivered his speech entirely in Spanish. He also won three awards in the off-air categories: top Latin male artist, top Latin song and top Latin album, a category in which he set a record for becoming the first Latin artist to land three nods in the same category.
Gabby Barrett was named top country female artist and teared up during her acceptance speech, noting how meaningful the award was to her.
Drake, who holds the title for most Billboard Music Award wins of all time, received the Artist of the Decade Award. He was introduced by a group of his family and friends and came out onstage with his 3-year-old son, Adonis Graham.
“That video was really full of a lot of confidence and bravado but the truth is I’m really bad at taking compliments,” he said of a video touting his accomplishment that aired before he took the stage. “Even if I do a good job I always wonder, how could I have done it better?”
He continued: “I didn’t really write a grandiose speech about how to make it work or what it took because to be really honest with you, I don’t quite understand it myself. …. I just know that I’ve spent an incalculable amount of hours trying to analyze all the things I did wrong, but tonight for once I’m sure as hell we’ve done something right.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Pop Smoke received the award for top Billboard 200 album for his posthumously released debut album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. Audrey Jackson accepted the award on behalf of her son, who died in February 2020 at age 20 of gunshot wounds after four intruders broke into the house he was renting. One of them was only 15.
“He created music for the kid who has to sleep four in his room, for the kid who has to figure out how to get to school each day so he can graduate and make his mom proud,” Jackson said of her son. “He did this so 14-year-olds would not have to kill to prove they are somebody. That is the irony in this.”
Pop Smoke also won four off-air awards, including top new artist, top rap artist, top rap male artist and top rap album.
Jon Bon Jovi introduced Icon Award recipient Pink, noting that they had been longtime friends after meeting when she was 22 and told him she had been a “big crush” on him when she was 7. “Since then, we’ve been friends. Not in that fake, music-business kind of way, but real friends,” he said. She then took the stage for a medley of her songs, kicking off with one of her signature acrobatic-filled performances alongside her 9-year-old daughter, Willow (they released a duet, “Cover Me In Sunshine,” earlier this year). She later segued into several of her hits, including “Just Like a Pill” and “Learn to Love Again.”
In her speech, Pink started off by humbly calling the honor “ridiculous.” To Bon Jovi, she joked that she “did not come out of my room for a week when you married Dorothea. I ripped your poster off my wall and replaced you with Sebastian Bach. I’m glad you found everlasting love you broke my heart. I take this as an apology.”
She added of her award: “This is an absolute honor. Dream big because what if it comes true?”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Machine Gun Kelly was named top rock artist, giving girlfriend Megan Fox a kiss before taking the stage. He noted it’d been 15 years since he released his mixtape and told viewers this was the “first big stage I’ve been invited to accept an award on. I just want to say to the dreamers who are going to be tested by reality he way I was. Suspend logic and invite magic. If five years or 10 years or 12 years would have been too long waiting for this moment, then I wouldn’t be having this moment. So just show the universe that it can’t take a dream from you.”
Tina Knowles-Lawson presented fellow Houston native Trae Tha Truth with the Change Maker Award for his “unwavering dedication to fighting for, and delivering, social and medical equity in his community.”
“Coming from where I come from, nothing was ever promised,” he said in his speech. “I said, if I ever got into a position, I’d be there for those in need — whether it be assisting little homies in music, whether it be assisting people who were in need of relief, or whether it’s just fighting on the front lines for those who can’t fight for themselves.”
He continued: “When it comes to change, it’s important. … It’s important to change people’s lives. It’s important to change the thoughts of those who give up at times. And it’s important to change things that wasn’t designed for our best interests. I come from the streets. We got to protect our women, we got to protect our children. We got to protect our elderly. … It’s about stepping up and never taking no for an answer.”
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BTS won four awards — top duo/group, top song sales artist, top-selling song and top social artist (a fan-voted prize) — and performed “Butter” from their home base of Seoul.
Other big musical moments came courtesy of Alicia Keys, who performed a medley of her hits after being introduced Michelle Obama via video.
The Jonas Brothers ended the show on the outdoor stage with Marshmello, who released a single together, “Leave Before You Love Me,” on Thursday. They also performed a medley of their recent hits, including “Sucker” and “Only Human.”
Other performers included AJR, Bad Bunny, Duran Duran, Glass Animals, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis with Sounds of Blackness featuring Ann Nesby, Karol G, The Weeknd and Twenty One Pilots.
Elsewhere, Morgan Wallen won three off-air awards, for top country album, top country artist and top country male artist. In February, a video surfaced of Wallen using the N-word. He apologized for using “an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur” after TMZ posted the video. In a statement Sunday, producer Dick Clark Productions reiterated past comments emphasizing that the BBMA finalists and winners are “determined by performance on the Billboard charts and are not chosen by a voting committee or membership organization. BBMA finalists and winners are based on key fan interactions with music (including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, social engagement), tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including MRC Data.”
They also repeated that “his recent conduct does not align with our core values, [and therefore] we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting). It is heartening and encouraging to hear that Morgan is taking steps in his anti-racist journey and starting to do some meaningful work. We plan to evaluate his progress and will consider his participation in future shows.” (Dick Clark Productions is a division of MRC, which is a co-owner of The Hollywood Reporter through a joint venture with Penske Media titled P-MRC.)
Winners were unveiled in a total of 51 categories spanning multiple genres. Other off-air winners included Taylor Swift for top female artist and top Billboard 200 artist, Kanye West for top gospel artist and top gospel song, Lady Gaga as top dance/electronic artist and top dance/electronic album, Carrie Underwood for top Christian album, Drake for top streaming sales artist, and Megan Theee Stallion for top rap female artist.
The list of winners below will be updated as they are announced Sunday during the live show. Refresh for the latest.
Top Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist
Pop Smoke (WINNER)
Gabby Barrett
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Rod Wave
Top Male Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Top Female Artist
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Dua Lipa
Megan Thee Stallion
Top Duo/Group
BTS (WINNER)
AC/DC
AJR
Dan + Shay
Maroon 5
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Post Malone
Top Hot 100 Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
DaBaby
Drake
Dua Lipa
Pop Smoke
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Drake (WINNER)
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
BTS (WINNER)
Justin Bieber
Megan Thee Stallion
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Justin Bieber
Lewis Capaldi
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)
BTS (WINNER)
BLACKPINK
Ariana Grande
SB19
Seventeen
Top R&B Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Doja Cat
Top R&B Male Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko
SZA
Top Rap Artist
Pop Smoke (WINNER)
DaBaby
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Top Rap Male Artist
Pop Smoke (WINNER)
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Top Rap Female Artist
Megan Thee Stallion (WINNER)
Cardi B
Saweetie
Top Country Artist
Morgan Wallen (WINNER)
Gabby Barrett
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Top Country Male Artist
Morgan Wallen (WINNER)
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Top Country Female Artist
Gabby Barrett (WINNER)
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Duo/Group
Florida Georgia Line (WINNER)
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
Top Rock Artist
Machine Gun Kelly (WINNER)
AC/DC
AJR
Five Finger Death Punch
twenty one pilots
Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny (WINNER)
Anuel AA
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny (WINNER)
J Balvin
Ozuna
Top Latin Female Artist
Karol G (WINNER)
Becky G
Rosalía
Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabón Armado (WINNER)
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Los Dos Carnales
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Lady Gaga (WINNER)
The Chainsmokers
Kygo
Marshmello
Surf Mesa
Top Christian Artist
Elevation Worship (WINNER)
Casting Crowns
for KING & COUNTRY
Carrie Underwood
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist
Kanye West (WINNER)
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Maverick City Music
Top Billboard 200 Album
Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (WINNER)
Juice WRLD Legends Never Die
Lil Baby My Turn
Taylor Swift folklore
The Weeknd After Hours
Top R&B Album
The Weeknd After Hours (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko Chilombo
Chris Brown & Young Thug Slime & B
Doja Cat Hot Pink
Kehlani It Was Good Until It Wasn’t
Top Rap Album
Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (WINNER)
DaBaby Blame It On the Baby
Juice WRLD Legends Never Die
Lil Baby My Turn
Lil Uzi Vert Eternal Atake
Top Country Album
Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album (WINNER)
Gabby Barrett Goldmine
Sam Hunt Southside
Chris Stapleton Starting Over
Carrie Underwood My Gift
Top Rock Album
Machine Gun Kelly Tickets to My Downfall (WINNER)
AC/DC Power Up
Miley Cyrus Plastic Hearts
Glass Animals Dreamland
Bruce Springsteen Letter to You
Top Latin Album
Bad Bunny YHLQMDLG (WINNER)
Anuel AA Emmanuel
Bad Bunny El Último Tour Del Mundo
Bad Bunny Las que no iban a salir
J Balvin Colores
Top Dance/Electronic Album
Lady Gaga Chromatica (WINNER)
DJ Snake Carte Blanche
Gryffin Gravity
Kygo Golden Hour
Kylie Minogue Disco
Top Christian Album
Carrie Underwood My Gift (WINNER)
Bethel Music Peace
Elevation Worship Grave Into Gardens
We The Kingdom Holy Water
Zach Williams Rescue Story
Top Gospel Album
Maverick City Music Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 (WINNER)
Koryn Hawthorne I AM
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Royalty: Live at the Ryman
Maverick City Music Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2
Kierra Sheard Kierra
Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (WINNER)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Top Streaming Song
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR” (WINNER)
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Future ft. Drake “Life Is Good”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Selling Song
BTS “Dynamite” (WINNER)
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
Top Radio Song
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope” (WINNER)
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now”
Harry Styles “Adore You”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope” (WINNER)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
Top R&B Song
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko ft. H.E.R. “B.S.”
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo “Intentions”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat “Say So”
Top Rap Song
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR” (WINNER)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
Top Country Song
Gabby Barrett “I Hope” (WINNER)
Jason Aldean “Got What I Got”
Lee Brice “One of Them Girls”
Morgan Wallen “Chasin’ You”
Morgan Wallen “More Than My Hometown”
Top Rock Song
AJR “Bang!” (WINNER)
All Time Low ft. blackbear “Monsters”
Glass Animals “Heat Waves”
Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear “my ex’s best friend”
twenty one pilots “Level of Concern”
Top Latin Song
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez “Dákiti” (WINNER)
Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
Maluma & The Weeknd “Hawái”
Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers “Caramelo”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
SAINt JHN “Roses (Imanbek Remix)” (WINNER)
Lady Gaga “Stupid Love”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain on Me”
Surf Mesa ft. Emilee “ily (i love you baby)”
Topic & A7S “Breaking Me”
Top Christian Song
Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake “Graves Into Gardens” (WINNER)
for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly “TOGETHER”
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Worship “The Blessing (Live)”
Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson “Famous For (I Believe)”
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton “There Was Jesus”
Top Gospel Song
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott “Wash Us In The Blood” (WINNER)
Koryn Hawthorne “Speak To Me”
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music “Movin’ On”
Marvin Sapp “Thank You For It All”
Tye Tribbett “We Gon’ Be Alright”
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