LAS VEGAS - Hello, Drake has surpassed Adele’s record at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards on Mondy, picking up 13 awards.
Adele set a record at the show in 2012 with 12 wins. The rapper, who walked into the show Monday 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.
But other big names showed up, though.
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.”
Korean boy band BTS, who won top social artist, earned one of the night’s loudest ovations. Another highlight was Celine Dion.
In a beautiful, Met Gala-ready white gown, she belted out “My Heart Will Go On,” the Oscar-winning song from “Titanic.” The film is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. John Legend and Florida Georgia Line also had a shining moment when they sang a duet version of the country duo’s soft hit, “H.O.L.Y.”
Miley Cyrus sang her breezy new single, “Malibu,” delivering a sound and muted style that marked departure from the hits that made her a pop star years ago. She was teary eyed at the end of the performance.
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.
The Chainsmokers - who tied Drake with 22 nominations - won the first televised award, top collaboration, for “Closer” with singer Halsey. The song, which spent 12 weeks at No. 1 last year, also won top Hot 100 song.
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. - AP
