Drake Made History at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards
The 2017 Billboard Music Awards were broadcast live on ABC from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ludacris and Vanessa Hudgens hosted this musical extravaganza and they opened with Niki Minaj.
Niki delivered a huge stage performance weaving through several of her hits. She came on stage singing No Frauds, one of her hit responses to Remy Ma. Lil Wayne joined her and she followed with Light My Body Up and Swalla with Jason Derulo. Niki took over the first ten minutes of the broadcast.
After Niki, Ludacris and Vanessa returned. Vanessa said the Niki Minaj is her alter ego and Ludacris put her on the spot to perform one of Niki’s raps. She took the challenge and performed one of Niki’s raps quite well.
Ludacris put her on the spot again and said this time sing like Celine Dion. Vanessa took the challenge and belted out another song. After that, Ludacris said she passed the test and she’s an official Billboard Music Award host.
Ed Helms and Kevin Hart were the first presenters. The first category was for Top Collaboration and the Billboard Music Award went to The Chainsmokers for their mega-hit Closer with Halsey, Boyce Avenue, and Sarah Hyland.
The next performance came from Camila Cabello. She performed her hit Crying in the Club.
Kate Beckinsale was the next presenter. Her category was Top Male Artist. The Billboard Music Award went to Drake. He won a crazy amount of well-deserved Billboard Awards. He dedicated this awards to all the directors, producers, and the fans.
Rita Ora was the next presenter and she introduced The Chainsmokers who performed Young. They were followed by Julia Michaels who performed Issues.
The performances just kept coming. Ed Sheeran performed Castle on the Hill from Santiago, Chile.
The next category was Top Country Song. The Billboard Music award went to Florida Georgia Line for H.O.L.Y.
Billy Ray and Miley’s sister Noah introduced her performance of her newest release, Malibu. Miley appeared to get a little choked up in the end. The song must have special meaning to her.
Josh Duhamel presented the award for the Top 200 Billboard Album. A tough category. The Billboard Music Award went to Drake who was sitting with Niki Minaj and Lil Wayne. He complimented Vanessa Hudgens on looking fabulous, which Niki Minaj wasn’t too thrilled about. He complimented Ludicase, said he admired him and told Niki he’s glad they are back. He ended with a shout out to his dad for wearing a purple suit and yelled, “Boy if you don’t stop” before leaving the stage.
Hailee Steinfeld introduced the performance of Green Light by Lorde.
Top Hot 100 Song was the next category and the Billboard Music Award went to The Chainsmokers. They had a great night too. They were censored and they may have mentioned the unmentionable.
Sam Hunt was next. He performed Body Like a Back Road.
Sean Diddy Combs followed. He came out to honor Notorious B.I.G. Biggie sold over 25 million records worldwide. Sean said, “He changed the game.” It is his 45th birthday and Sean asked the audience to stand and give B.I.G. a round of applause. “Happy Birthday Biggie. B.I.G forever.”
Sean then introduced Biggie’s son C.J. Wallace. He spoke briefly but eloquently about his father’s memory.
Diddy then introduced a video clip of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop his upcoming film on the making of his record company, Bad Boy Records.
The next category was Top Social Artist and the award went to the South Korean boy band BTS. They received a standing ovation in the audience from the audience.
Celine Don was next to perform. She sang My Heart Will Go On. The audience stood applauded and cheered, and there probably wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Imagine Dragons were next. They performed Believer.
Jussie Smollett and Nicole Scherzinger introduced the nominees for Top Country Award and the Billboard Music Award went to Blake Sheldon. He kissed Gwen Stefani in the audience before he took the stage. He said he already felt like the luckiest guy in the room because Gwen was with him. He also thanked his fans and Warner Bros. Records.
Drake came next. He performed Gyalchester from the Bellagio Hotel in the center of a huge water fountain surrounded by fireworks.
Halsey performed Now or Never and the 2017 Billboard Music Awards Chart Achievement Award went to Twenty One Pilots. They delivered their acceptance speech via video.
John Legend and Florida Georgia Line performed together. John started with a piano solo of Surefire. He was then joined by Florida Georgia Line who sang H.O.L.Y.
2017 Billboard Music Awards remembered Chris Cornell with a moment of silence and expressed sympathy to his family in the wake of his sudden death.
Gwen Stefani honored Cher with the 2017 Billboard Music Awards Icon Award and introduced her performance. Cher performed Believe. It sounded heavy on auto-tuned in the beginning, but the audience loved it and stood and sang with her through the entire song.
After the video highlights of her incredible career, Cher took the stage again and sang Turn Back Time. No auto-tune now and Cher rocked her infamous black fishnet body suit. The audience went insane when she was done. Gwen then presented her with the Icon Award.
Cheri said she’s 71 years old yesterday and has been performing for 53 years. She also said luck had a lot to do with her success.
Bruno Mars appeared next From Amsterdam and performed Versace On The Floor. He did that song justice.
Prince Michael Jackson was the next presenter. He announced the nominees for the Top Artist. The Billboard Music Award went to Drake. He broke the record for the most awards in a single year. Lil Wayne and the others around him bowed down to him. He brought his father up with him in that purple suit. He said something outrageous at the end of his acceptance speech because it was heavily censored.
Great way to close the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.
See you next year!
Tanya Hart
Follow me on Twitter at @TanyaHollywood
