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The Weeknd kicked off the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday evening with the first win of the night for the Top Hot 100 Artist Award.
The ceremony was being hosted by the injured Nick Jonas, who was making his debuting helming it.
Lil Rel Howery presented the first award and joked that he got Glenn Close to do the Butt at the Oscars, so he was going to try to get Barbra Streisand to do the Tootsie Roll if he ran into her tonight.
First win: The Weeknd kicked off the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday evening with the first win of the night for the Top Hot 100 Artist Award
It was a triumphant win for The Weeknd, who had recently been snubbed by the Grammy Awards after his album After Hours didn’t receive a single nomination.
Since that kerfuffle, he’s decided to boycott the ceremony, and even after the Grammys eliminated some of its secret committees that determine the nominees he kept up his boycott.
The Weeknd took to the stage looking dapper in a black overcoat and tie while sporting a close-cropped beard. Â
‘It’s been a dark year and you brought light and escape with your music, genius, brilliance, and you deserve this award just as much as I do, if not more,’ he complimented his fellow nominees, including DaBaby, Drake, Dua Lipa and Pop Smoke.
Out of the dark: ‘It’s been a dark year and you brought light and escape with your music, genius, brilliance, and you deserve this award just as much as I do, if not more,’ he complimented his fellow nominees
Best of luck: Lil Rel Howery presented the first award and joked that he got Glenn Close to do the Butt at the Oscars, so he was going to try to get Barbra Streisand to do the Tootsie Roll
Ouch:Â The host Nick Jonas was soldiering through his hosting job despite recently injury his ribs while filming a new stunt-based show for NBC, which is also broadcasting the Billboard Awards
The Weeknd (real name: Abel Tesfaye) also joked that he was happy to be done wearing the red suit he’s worn in almost all of his music videos and performances in the wake of After Hours.
He had already won seven awards prior to the first on-screen award with Top Male Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Album, Top Radio Song, and Top R&B Song.
He’s nominated for an impressive 16 awards total.
The Save Your Tears hitmaker’s acclaimed album After Hours — which was snubbed at the Grammy Awards — is in contention for Top Billboard 200 Album and Top R&B Album.
The 31-year-old megastar is also nominated for Top Male Artist, Top R&B Artist and Top Hot 100 song for Blinding Lights. DaBaby is in the running for 11 awards, while Pop Smoke has posthumously received 10 nominations.
The host Nick Jonas was soldiering through his hosting job despite recently injury his ribs while filming a new stunt-based show for NBC, which is also broadcasting the Billboard Awards.
It’s the first time the 28-year-old singer and actor has hosted the show.
Billboard said in a statement earlier this month: ‘This is Jonas’ first time as host of the Billboard Music Awards, which is two years older than he is. (He’s 28; the show launched 30 years ago).
‘But he’s had lots of awards show experience, including teaming with his wife, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, to announce this year’s Oscar nominations.’
Kicking off in style:Â The ceremony opened with Doja Cat and SZA putting on a candy-colored performance of their song Kiss Me More
Eye-catching: SZA showed off a striking yellow wig with jeweled-covered lingerie
Already a winner:Â Doja Cat won Top R&B Female Artist before the broadcast even began
Nick — who is taking over from Kelly Clarkson as presenter — joked: ‘Truly an honor to have already received the first preemptive 2021 #BBMAs award. Best host ever?! Wow! Tune-in May 23rd at 8pm ET/5pm PT on @NBC.’Â
The ceremony opened with Doja Cat and SZA putting on a candy-colored performance of their song Kiss Me More.
Doja Cat won Top R&B Female Artist before the broadcast even began.Â
BTS was the next winner of the night for Top Selling Song with its hit single Dynamite.
The K-pop group were featured virtually from Seoul. ‘Thank you for the top-selling song award, which is amazing and huge it’s really an honor to be the winner of such a significant title. We want to share some fresh energy with everyone through Dynamite. We think with this award, we achieved that goal,’ members of the band said.
Top Country Female Artist went to Gabby Barrett, who had already won Top Country Song for her single I Hope and was clearly emotional.
Overcome with emotion:Â Top Country Female Artist went to Gabby Barrett, who had already won Top Country Song for her single I Hope and was clearly emotional. She was dressed in a stunning rippling gold gown
Alicia Keys put on a show-stopping performance with a medley from her debut album, Songs In A Minor.Â
She was dressed in double denim featuring an acid-wash jacket with flared shoulder pads as she belted out her earliest hits, including probably her most popular song, Fallin’.Â
Next up was Master Of None star Lena Waithe presenting the award for Top Latin Artist to Bad Bunny, who had already won several trophies.
He wore a chic studded leather duster and gave his acceptance speech in Spanish.Â
Modern classic:Â Alicia Keys put on a show-stopping performance with a medley from her debut album, Songs In A Minor
Tickling the ivory:Â She was dressed in double denim featuring an acid-wash jacket with flared shoulder pads as she belted out her earliest hits, including probably her most popular song, Fallin’
Latin nominees: Next up was Master Of None star Lena Waithe presenting the award for Top Latin Artist to Bad Bunny, who had already won several trophies
Speaking to his fans: Bad Bunny wore a chic studded leather duster and gave his acceptance speech in Spanish
One of the evening’s honorary awards, the Icon Award, was presented to Pink by her good friend Jon Bon Jovi.
The 59-year-old rocker looked youthful with his shaggy hair, wide grin and a cool leather jacket.
Pink put on a sweet performance of her recent song Cover Me In Sunshine, which she duets on with her daughter Willow Sage Hart.
The lovely number featured her and Willow suspending themselves from ropes and doing acrobatics in front of a projected moon.Â
The singer eschewed her biggest hits at first in favor of songs that showed off her softer side, though that all changed with the first strains of Get The Party Started.
She wore a platinum mohawk with a black sheer dress and a cropped biker jacket.Â
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Too cool for school:Â One of the evening’s honorary awards, the Icon Award, was presented to Pink by her good friend Jon Bon Jovi. The 59-year-old rocker looked youthful with his shaggy hair, wide grin and a cool leather jacket
Family:Â Pink put on a sweet performance of her recent song Cover Me In Sunshine, which she duets on with her daughter Willow Sage Hart
Striking:Â The lovely number featured her and Willow suspending themselves from ropes and doing acrobatics in front of a projected moon
Letting loose:Â The singer eschewed her biggest hits at first in favor of songs that showed off her softer side, though that all changed with the first strains of Get The Party Started
In her acceptance speech, Pink joked that she tore up Bon Jovi’s poster on his wall and replaced it with Sebastian Bach after he married his longtime wife Dorothea Hurley in 1989.
Lil Baby spoke virtually from the studio to announce the nominees for Top Hot 100 Song, though Nick Jonas announced it back on stage.
The Weeknd was triumphant once again. ‘I want to talk to my fans,’ he began.
‘I want to thank everyone involved in making this magical song. I want to thank my fans, of course. You guys make me want to do this forever,’ he said. ‘I love you so much and I just want to say the after hours are done and the dawn is coming.’Â
Karol G, who won the award for Top Latin Female Artist before the broadcast, gave her debut performance at the ceremony while dancing atop a Hummer in a white crop top and matching jeans, plus teal hair.
Having a laugh:Â In her acceptance speech, Pink joked that she tore up Bon Jovi’s poster on his wall and replaced it with Sebastian Bach after he married his longtime wife Dorothea Hurley in 1989
Laying down a track:Â Lil Baby spoke virtually from the studio to announce the nominees for Top Hot 100 Song, though Nick Jonas announced it back on stage
Back again: The Weeknd was triumphant once again and addressed his fans
First time:Â Karol G, who won the award for Top Latin Female Artist before the broadcast, gave her debut performance at the ceremony while dancing atop a Hummer in a white crop top and matching jeans, plus teal hair
The producer and occasional hype man Swizz Beatz was up next with a short tribute to his friend DMX, who died last month, reportedly of a heart attack brought on by a drug overdose.
He presented the award for Top Rap Song to DaBaby for his single ROCKSTAR, which features Roddy Ricch.
DaBaby accepted the award and turned toward the audience and away from the cameras at first to give them a better view. He celebrated the song becoming the ‘longest-running number one’ single on the Billboard charts for 2020.
Tina Knowles introduced the rapper and activist Trae tha Truth for the second-annual Billboard Change Maker Award, after Killer Mike won the inaugural award the year before.
A video featuring Trae showed his activism as he led huge crowds protesting police brutality and systemic racism.Â
‘Coming from where I come from, nothing was ever promised,’ he said. ‘I said if I ever got in this position, I’d be there for those in need. Whether it be assisting little homies in music, assisting people in need of relief or whether just fighting on the front line for those who can’t fight for themselves.’
He concluded with thanks for Beyoncé and her mother Tina, whom he said calls him a superhero, before calling for justice for Breonna Taylor.
Remembrance:Â The producer and occasional hype man Swizz Beatz was up next with a short tribute to his friend DMX, who died last month, reportedly of a heart attack brought on by a drug overdose
Putting on a show: He presented the award for Top Rap Song to DaBaby for ROCKSTAR, which features Roddy Ricch. DaBaby accepted the award and turned toward the audience and away from the cameras at first to give them a better view
Making a difference:Â Tina Knowles introduced the rapper and activist Trae tha Truth for the second-annual Billboard Change Maker Award, after Killer Mike won the inaugural award the year before
Nothing for granted: ‘Coming from where I come from, nothing was ever promised,’ Trae said while remembering those he vowed to help with his fame and influence
Padma Lakshmi was on hand in a sparkling white suit to introduce the K-pop stars BTS, who performed their new single Butter from Seoul.Â
As they did for the Grammys, the vocal group had a stage mocked up that resembled parts of the Billboard set, despite being on the other side of the globe.
Up next, Drake was honored with the prestigious Artist of the Decade Award with his friends and family presenting.
The rapper submitted a video of himself voicing his internal fears about success, before LeBron James listed his stunning chart accomplishments.
‘Are we sure it’s luck? Nine number one albums. Six number one songs. A record 232 songs on the Billboard charts. Forty-five top ten compositions, the most of any artist ever. Are we sure it’s luck? The first artist to debut at number one, two and three simultaneously. More weeks on the hot 100 than Elvis Presley, Elton John, Stevie wonder and Michael Jackson. Most streamed artist of all time. Thirteen Billboard awards, the most ever in one night. Twenty-seven total Billboard awards, the most wins in music history. A record 431 weeks on Hot 100.’Â
Once he came out on stage, Drake brought a surprise guest: his son Adonis, three.
After admitting that the video was full of braggadocio, he thanked his ‘beautiful family’ and held his son aloft.
‘I want to dedicate this award to you,’ he said as Adonis started crying from being put on the spot.
Drake gave him a quick kiss before they shuffled off the stage.Â
Live from Seoul:Â Padma Lakshmi was on hand in a sparkling white suit to introduce the K-pop stars BTS, who performed their new single Butter from Seoul. As they did for the Grammys, the vocal group had a stage mocked up that resembled parts of the Billboard set, despite being on the other side of the globe
Meghan Thee Stallion has landed nine nods, including Top Rap Song and Top Selling Song for Savage.Â
The Hot Girl Summer hitmaker will be competing against herself in the two categories, as her Cardi B collaboration ‘WAP’ is also nominated for the two awards.
That song sat out the nominations at this year’s Grammys ceremony in favor of waiting until Cardi includes it on her upcoming album.Â
Taylor Swift — who is up for four prizes in total — will go head-to-head with The Weeknd’s After Hours Lil Baby’s My Turn and the late Juice WRLD’s Legends Never Die for Top Billboard 200 Album.
And the coveted Top Artist prize will either go to Drake, Juice WRLD, Pop Smoke, Taylor Swift or The Weeknd.
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