The Weeknd and Adele have emerged the major victors of the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in a night which included emotional appearances from Kesha and Celine Dion.
Canadian singer The Weeknd (real name Abęl Tesfaye) took home eight awards, more than any other male artist in Billboard history. The 26-year-old won top R&B song for The Hills, top Hot 100 artist and top R&B album for Beauty Behind the Madness.
He dedicated his top Hot 100 artist award to late singer Prince, who he credited with helping him “push the envelope”. “I love him so much,” Tesfaye said. “I didn’t know him, but he was so close to me. He will always be an inspiration.”
Fellow Canadians Justin Bieber won top male artist and top social media artist, while Drake won top rap artist. Pop doyen Taylor Swift – who dominated last year’s awards – barely rated a mention this year, having won one category (top touring artist). The singer was also missing from the awards, presumably due to her DJ boyfriend Calvin Harris being injured in a car accident on Friday.
The ceremony took an emotional turn when Celine Dion was recognized with a lifetime achievement award, presented by her teenage son, Rene-Charles.
Dion, whose husband, Rene Angelil, died of cancer in January, performed Queen’s The Show Must Go On before dedicating the award to her late partner. “I want to be so strong for my family and my kids,” the singer said, fighting tears. “I don’t want to cry in front of you. “Rene, this one’s for you.”
Britney Spears opened the awards with a seven-minute medley of her greatest hits, including I’m A Slave 4 U and Womanizer, before being recognised with the millenium award.
The gong has only been given to two other artists; Beyonce in 2011 and Whitney Houston in 2012.
The ceremony closed with a tribute to Prince courtesy of Madonna, who performance his song Nothing Compares 2 U in a purple metallic suit, before being joined by Stevie Wonder in a surprise rendition of Purple Rain.
Check out the complete list of winners below:
Top Artist:
Adele — WINNER
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Billboard Chart Achievement Award (Fan-Voted):
Rihanna — WINNER
Adele
Drake
The Weeknd
Little Big Town
Top R&B Song:
Alessia Cara “Here”
Omarion Featuring Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko, “Post To Be”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”
The Weeknd, “The Hills” — WINNER
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele, 25 — WINNER
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Ed Sheeran, x
Taylor Swift, 1989
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness
Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber — WINNER
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Top Country Song:
Sam Hunt, “Break Up In A Small Town”
Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”
Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
Thomas Rhett, “Die A Happy Man” — WINNER
Chris Young, “I’m Comin’ Over”
Top Hot 100 Song:
Adele, “Hello”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again” — WINNER
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top New Artist:
Fetty Wap — WINNER
OMI
Charlie Puth
Silentó
Bryson Tiller
Top Female Artist:
Adele — WINNER
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
Maroon 5
One Direction — WINNER
twenty one pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele — WINNER
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Silentó
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Social Media Artist:
Justin Bieber — WINNER
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
Top Touring Artist:
Madonna
One Direction
The Rolling Stones
Taylor Swift — WINNER
U2
Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Jeremih
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd — WINNER
Top Rap Artist:
Drake — WINNER
Fetty Wap
Future
Wiz Khalifa
Silentó
Top Country Artist:
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan — WINNER
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Top Rock Artist:
Fall Out Boy
Elle King
twenty one pilots — WINNER
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors
Top Latin Artist:
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga
Juan Gabriel
Nicky Jam
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Romeo Santos — WINNER
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers
DJ Snake
David Guetta — WINNER
Major Lazer
Zedd
Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong United — WINNER
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy
Tasha Cobbs
Kirk Franklin — WINNER
Travis Greene
Marvin Sapp
Top Soundtrack:
Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Furious 7
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1
Pitch Perfect 2 — WINNER
Top R&B Album:
Chris Brown, Royalty
Rihanna, Anti
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
Tyrese, Black Rose
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness — WINNER
Top Rap Album:
Drake, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Drake & Future, What A Time To Be Alive
Dr. Dre, Compton
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp A Butterfly
Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money — WINNER
Top Country Album:
Chris Stapleton, Traveller — WINNER
Luke Bryan, Kill The Lights
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Zac Brown Band, Jekyll + Hyde
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller
Top Rock Album:
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
David Bowie, Blackstar
Coldplay, A Head Full Of Dreams
Mumford & Sons, Wilder Mind
twenty one pilots, Blurryface — WINNER
Top Latin Album:
Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo — WINNER
Juan Gabriel, Mis Número 1…40 Aniversario
Mana, Cama Incendiada
Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Más Fuerte
Romeo Santos, Formula, Vol. 2
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
David Guetta, Listen
Major Lazer, Peace Is The Mission
ODESZA, In Return
Skrillex & Diplo, Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü
Zedd, True Colors — WINNER
Top Christian Album:
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be — WINNER
Hillsong UNITED, Empires
Joey + Rory, Hymns That Are Important To Us
TobyMac, This Is Not A Test
Chris Tomlin, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live
Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion — WINNER
Jonathan McReynolds, Life Music: Stage Two
Marvin Sapp, You Shall Live
Top Selling Song:
Adele, “Hello” — WINNER
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
OMI, “Cheerleader”
Rachel Platten, “Fight Song”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Radio Song:
Adele “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Walk the Moon, “Shut Up and Dance” — WINNER
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
The Weeknd, “The Hills” — WINNER
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Silentó, “Watch Me” — WINNER
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Rap Song:
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Fetty Wap, “679” feat. Remy Boyz
Silentó, “Watch Me”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again” — WINNER
Top Rock Song:
Fall Out Boy, “Uma Thurman”
Elle King, “Ex’s & Oh’s”
twenty one pilots, “Stressed Out”
Walk the Moon, “Shut Up And Dance” — WINNER
X Ambassadors, “Renegades”
Top Latin Song:
J Balvin “Ginza”
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, “Te Metiste”
Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdon” — WINNER
Maluma, “Borro Cassette”
Romeo Santos, “Propuesta Indecente”
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers Featuring ROZES, “Roses”
DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge, “You Know You Like It”
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack, “Hey Mama”
Major Lazer & DJ Snake Featuring MØ, “Lean On” — WINNER
Skrillex & Diplo, “Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber
Top Christian Song:
Hillsong UNITED, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” — WINNER
Hillsong UNITED, “Touch the Sky”
MercyMe, “Flawless”
NEEDTOBREATHE Featuring Gavin DeGraw, “Brother”
Chris Tomlin, “Good Good Father”
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy, “Worth”
Erica Campbell feat. Big Shizz, “I Luh God”
Kirk Franklin, “Wanna Be Happy?” — WINNER
Travis Greene, “Intentional”
Brian Courtney Wilson, “Worth Fighting For”
