The 2021 Billboard Music Awards have come and gone, and hopefully you didn’t miss a thing. But, just in case you did (smh), or if you just feel like reliving it, as always... we gotchu.
Amazing performances, surprise announcements, and unforgettable moments, here's a list of some of our favorites in no particular order.
The Host with the Most: Nick Jonas
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From studying the Billboard charts and reading Billboard Magazine, to hosting the Billboard Music Awards. Nick Jonas is truly living his “dream,” and being able to witness it is ours. From his cheer-filled opening, one outfit change, to performing with his bros and Marshmello, he truly brought us, as he said — “back together again," throughout the whole night. And for that, and many other reason's we feel Nick killed it as a first time host.
DJ Khaled, Migos and H.E.R. went CRAZY for the show’s opening
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As expected DJ Khaled, Migos and H.E.R. blew things up for the very start of the show, showing us exactly what “WE GOING CRAZY” truly means. The entire outdoor performance was lit, no but literally, there were flames involved, as well as some satin clad dudes playing trumpets. Also for the first time in a hot minute there was a real crowd, like made up of real people. Basically the whole thing was just “anotha one” of Khaled’s epic star-studded performances.
Doja Cat went off and brought SZA along for the ride
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Doja Cat promises to take us to a different planet with her new album, but she already started us on our journey with her BBMA performance. Blessing out eyes, lookin’ hella fine as always, she simultaneously blessed our ears with some help from SZA performing their new single “Kiss Me More.”
Let’s talk about that Alicia Keys Medley
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This girl is on FIRE! But we already knew that… After being introduced by Michelle Obama, who praised Alicia Keys for being “always thoughtful, always hopeful, always Alicia,” and for taking us “to church, the symphony, a candle lit dinner and couples therapy… all in less than 3 minutes,” Alicia took to the stage and proved all those things true.
Performing a three-song medley of songs off her debut album, Songs in A Minor, which btw spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts, Keys took us on a trip down memory lane and forget outfit changes, because Alicia did the piano do si do, tickling the ivories on a different piano with each song she sang.
The R&B savant started things off slow, posted up at her usual spot, the piano, while narrating the album's intro "Piano & I.” Then ditching her signature instrument for a red keyboard to sing "A Woman's Worth.” Next a rainbow-splattered piano called her to play her Prince cover, "How Come You Don't Call Me.” Of course he saved the best for last with a powerful rendition of “Fallin’,” which had us fallin’ in love all over again with the 2001 mega-hit.
Twenty One Pilots rocked out
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High energy, crowd interaction and star power were at an all-time high when Twenty One Pilots took the stage. The group rocked out to their song, “Shy Away,” off their most-recent album Scaled and Icy and we were loving every minute. The group has won a total of seven Billboard Music Awards and received a nomination for a possible eighth win tonight for Top Rock Song with “Level of Concern.”
The Weeknd won (a lot), had some major news, oh and he also slayed his performance
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While picking up his award for Top Hot 100 Song for "Blinding Lights" of course, and just one of the many awards he won Sunday night (including the biggest award of the evening Top Artist) The Weeknd had a major message for us -- “The After Hours are done, and the dawn is coming.” Well that’s pretty major. So, the red suit is dead… but what’s coming next? Well clearly “the dawn” is, but what does that mean?!
Guess we'll find out soon, for now lets just obsess over his performance. Any performance by The Weeknd is bound to be a treat and his performance on Sunday night was no exception. The mega-star was joined by LA Traffic (literally) as he sang “Save Your Tears,” and we have to admit, we’ve never wanted to be part of a traffic jam so bad. From convertibles to semi-trucks, The Weeknd once again proved his creativity is one of a kind.
AJR Performed with a Bang
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The brothers of AJR brought the heat to the BBMA stage and to put it lightly — we. are. obsessed. They kicked things off with a bang….. literally, as they performed their bop, “Bang!,” with a horn section and neon explosions. After shouting out their Dad from the stage, the trio transitioned into “Way Less Sad,” and we have to admit, by this point we were off the couch waving our arms from side to side with the BBMA crowd!
BTS were as smooth as butter
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BTS served up some “Butter,” all the way from Seoul, South Korea with a live performance of their new song, “Butter.” They had all the ingredients of a bomb performance, and if you ask us - it was one of their best ever. Complete with smooth choreography, amazing vocals and a catchy new song… It’s a good thing there’s no such thing as too much butter ;) We KNOW the boys did their BTS Army of fans proud!
And the Icon Award goes to… P!nk!
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Not only did P!nk receive the icon award during Sunday night’s show, but she also stunned us with an incredible performance that pretty much had our jaws on the floor from the first second.
The pop star covered 6 of her biggest hits in just 8 minutes, beginning with her most recent, “Cover Me In Sunshine,” a duet featuring her daughter Willow. Willow joined her mom on stage for the song as the mother-daughter-duo soared to new heights wrapped in aerial silk. They ended the song with an embrace before P!nk went into an acoustic rendition of her song “All I Know So Far.”
After showing her soft side, P!nk turned up the heat with an intro of “Get This Party Started” with a quick transition into “So What,” “Who Knew,” “Just Like A Pill” and “Just Give Me A Reason.” With a performance like that, it’s no wonder P!nk was awarded the Icon Award.
After her performance she accepted her Icon award, which was presented by Jon Bon Jovi, with a heartfelt speech telling her fans, “Dream big, because what if it comes true?”
Trae tha Truth, a true Change Maker
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Presented by Tina Knowles-Lawson, this years recipient of the The Change Maker Award is Trae tha Truth, who in his recipient speech said it better than we ever could. Beginning his speech stating, ”another day, another blessing,” he went on to say "I said if I ever had a position, I'd be there for those in need. ... I'm one of those who represent the struggle of the less fortunate. And what I will say when it comes to change is it's important, that's why this award is so important to me. 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 interest.... It's time for us to change the narrative and control our own story… I don't look to take the title of an activist. I just look to be Trae.”
Pop Smoke made his mama proud
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Emotions were high when Pop Smoke's mom, Audrey Jackson took the award show stage to accept the Top Billboard 200 Album award on behalf of her late son’s album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. The late rapper was awarded four additional posthumous awards at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards; Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, and Top Rap Album. “Thank you to the fans for honoring the life and spirit of my son, so much that he continues to manifest as if he were still here in flesh,” his Mom shared. “He created music for the kid who has to sleep four in a room, the kid who has to figure out how to get to school each day so he can graduate and make his mom proud. He did this so that 14-year-olds would not have to kill to prove they are somebody.” The rapper, who's real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, died at the age of 20 in February 2020.
Drake was named Artist of the Decade (duh)
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Drake was honored with the Artist of the Decade award at this years Billboard Music Awards, because honestly who else would.
Strolling out, holding his baby boy Adonis’ hand to accept his well-deserved award, backed by his family and friends Drake gave a speech where he talked about how he’s “really self-conscious about my music," Which at first had us all like huh? Because um he’s Drake. But then he started his speech, as Adonis adorably and impressively held onto the heavy BBMA trophy, and it all kinda made sense. He continued, “I rarely celebrate anything, and just for anyone watching this that's wondering how this happened, that's really the answer. It's being so unsure how you're getting it done, that you just keep going in the hopes of figuring out the formula. Feeling so lucky and blessed that the fear of losing it keeps you up at night.”
"I didn't write a grandiose speech about how to make it work or what it took, 'cause to be honest, I don't really understand it myself," he admitted. "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 did something right."
Drake went on to dedicate his award to his friends, longtime collaborators, and his peers and closed things out by thanking his “beautiful family,” including Adonis, who at that very moment burst into tears. And guess what so did we, so pass the tissues please, and pour some champagne(papi) because Drake’s the Artist of the Decade.
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