The 2021 Billboard Music Awards occurred on Sunday, May 23rd at the Los Angeles Microsoft Theater. Nick Jonas hosted the ceremony, which was one of the first awards shows to return in person following Covid restrictions.
Rapper Drake received the award for Artist of the Decade. Nicki Minaj later congratulated him on her Instagram story, saying “Single handedly (sic) changed music & the music business forever. Congratulations @champagnepapi”.
He surprised fans by walking onstage with his three-year-old son, Adonis Graham. He previously attempted to shield his son from the spotlight. His child held onto the award, mesmerized by the crowd.
K Pop supergroup BTS performed their smash hit “Butter”. BTS won four Billboard Music Awards. Their hit “Dynamite” won for the top-selling song. Machine Gun Kelly received the award for “Top Rock Artist”. He and bombshell girlfriend Megan Fox wowed on the red carpet, and couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. In his acceptance speech, Machine Gun Kelly referred to her as his “twin soul who showed me how to love”. The two have been very public about their love for each other. Machine Gun Kelly had black dye on his tongue, which he used as a pose in many photo ops.
Eighties band Duran Duran performed hits including “Hungry Like A Wolf”, uniting different generations of fans. In another blast from the past, the 2000s boy band the Jonas Brothers also performed. Tiktok couple Noah Beck and Dixie D’Amelio made their first debut appearance on the red carpet together.
Canadian R&B musician the Weeknd won the award for “Top Artist”, beating out two deceased musicians Pop Smoke and Juice Wrld. The Weeknd won in ten categories, taking home the awards for “Top Hot 100 Artist”, “Top Radio Songs Artist”, “Top R&B Artist”, and “Top Male Artist”. Country music singer Morgan Wallace was originally nominated for six different awards. However, he was not able to take part in the Award Show after a racism scandal occurred. Wallace was caught on video saying a racial slur multiple times.
