Canadian singer, Drake is on top of the world after garnering 13 record awards at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. one better than Adele’s haul of 12 set in 2012.
The rapper, who walked into the show Sunday with 22 nominations, won top artist, top male artist and top Billboard 200 album (“Views”), among others, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “I got my whole family up here,” said Drake, who stood onstage with nearly two dozen people, including his father, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.
Drake was presented the top artist award by Prince Jackson, the late Michael Jackson’s eldest son. Drake beat out Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Adele, Ariana Grande, the Weeknd, twenty one pilots, Shawn Mendes and the Chainsmokers for the top prize. Of those nominees, only Drake and the Chainsmokers attended the Billboard Awards.
Beyonce won her five awards for Top Female Artist, Top Touring Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Tour and Top R&B Album. Nigerian Afro pop singer, Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun also had a glorious night clinching three awards. Zayn Malik won the top new artist award
Nicki Minaj kicked off the show with an explosive nine-minute performance of her hit songs alongside her mentor Lil Wayne and frequent collaborator David Guetta. She recently broke Aretha Franklin’s record for most songs placed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by a female artist.
Cher, who received the Icon award, sang her dance anthem “Believe” in a glittery number that included pasties and blonde hair with pink tips. She later changed wigs — this time in a huge, curly black ‘do — and wore a black sheer bodysuit and leather jacket for “If I Could Turn Back Time.” Her performance earned the most audience participation of the night.
“I wanted to do what I do since I was 4 years old and I’ve been doing it for 53 years,” said Cher, who turned 71 on Saturday. “And I can do a five-minute plank. Just saying.” “I think luck has so much to do with my success with a little bit of something thrown in,” she added.
The Chainsmokers performed “Young” with Andrew Taggart on vocals and Alex Pall behind the board (they were also backed by a drummer). Ed Sheeran sang “Castle on the Hill” from Santiago, Chile, while Bruno Mars performed his silky new single, “Versace on the Floor,” from Amsterdam. Other performers include Lorde, Sam Hunt, Halsey, Camila Cabello and Julia Michaels.
At the show, Diddy honored his former friend and artist Notorious B.I.G, who would have turned 45 on Sunday. Diddy also introduced CJ Wallace, B.I.G’s son, who spoke about his father’s legacy. Then Diddy showed the trailer of the documentary, “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story,” which will be available on Apple Music on June 25.
Blake Shelton won top country artist and showed love for his beau and fellow singer Gwen Stefani. “I felt like the luckiest guy in the room ’cause Gwen was here with me anyway,” he said.
Full list of winners:
- Top male artist – Drake
- Top female artist – Beyonce
- Icon award – Cher
- Top duo/group – Twenty One Pilots
- Top Billboard 200 artist – Drake
- Top Hot 100 artist – Drake
- Top song sales artist – Drake
- Top touring artist – Beyonce
- Top R&B artist – Beyonce
- Top rap artist – Drake
- Top rock artist – Twenty One Pilots
- Top dance/electronic artist – The Chainsmokers
- Top billboard 200 Album – Drake, Views
- Top R&B album – Beyonce, Lemonade
- Top rap album – Drake, Views
- Top rock album – Metallica, Hardwired…To Self Destruct
- Top Hot 100 Song – The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, Closer
- Top selling song – Justin Timberlake, Can’t Stop The Feeling!
