It was quite a night. Icons and 80’s pop, Madonna to Rihanna, it was magical musical mayhem and a lynch mob going after a lip syncing Britney Spears. And I loved every minute of it!
Ciara and Ludacris hosted the show. In the opening monologue, the rapper poked at this year’s Academy Awards, which featured all-white acting nominees.
“Unlike the Oscars, we actually have black nominees,”
Celine Dion sang Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” in strong form, sporting a shiny dress and backed by a powerful orchestra. Dion lost her husband and brother in the same week in January, and her son presented her with the Billboard icon award after her performance.
Madonna and Stevie Wonder performed a tribute to Prince at Sunday’s 2016 Billboard Music Awards. After an introduction from Questlove, she sang “Nothing Compares 2 U,” before Stevie Wonder joined for “Purple Rain.” Everyone was remembering the purple Prince…
“All of us live in the land of music and his departure was an earthquake,” Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson said before the performance. “I just want to take a moment to remember the great Prince Rogers Nelson.”
The Weeknd, the night’s big winner with eight, dedicated an award to Prince and told the audience,
“I love him so much. I didn’t know him, but he was so close to me. He will always be an inspiration.”
Check out the video of Madonna and Stevie Wonder HERE
There were gorgeous dresses and there were just plain bizarre outfits that you’ll have to see to believe. Check out the crazy ones, like Singer Z Lala (pictured below in a cage. Weird.) on Bustle.
And the awards went to…
Top Artist:
Adele — WINNER
Billboard Chart Achievement Award (Fan-Voted):
Rihanna — WINNER
Top R&B Song:
The Weeknd, “The Hills” — WINNER
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele, 25 — WINNER
Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber — WINNER
Top Country Song:
Thomas Rhett, “Die A Happy Man” — WINNER
Top Hot 100 Song:
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again” — WINNER
Top Hot 100 Artist:
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top New Artist:
Fetty Wap — WINNER
Top Female Artist:
Adele — WINNER
Top Duo/Group:
One Direction — WINNER
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele — WINNER
Top Song Sales Artist:
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Radio Songs Artist:
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Social Media Artist:
Justin Bieber — WINNER
Top Touring Artist:
Taylor Swift — WINNER
Top R&B Artist:
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Rap Artist:
Drake — WINNER
Top Country Artist:
Luke Bryan — WINNER
Top Rock Artist:
twenty one pilots — WINNER
Top Latin Artist:
Romeo Santos — WINNER
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
David Guetta — WINNER
Top Christian Artist:
Hillsong United — WINNER
Top Gospel Artist:
Kirk Franklin — WINNER
Top Soundtrack:
Pitch Perfect 2 — WINNER
Top R&B Album:
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness — WINNER
Top Rap Album:
Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money — WINNER
Top Country Album:
Chris Stapleton, Traveller — WINNER
Top Rock Album:
twenty one pilots, Blurryface — WINNER