Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen hosted the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. The program aired live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The show opened with Taylor Swift’s music video Bad Blood. It’s a star-studded music video with high 
Chrissy Teigen and Ludacris then walked through the audience to take the stage and took a shot when they arrived. Chrissy made a grimacing face after she drank hers.
Chrissy then asked everyone to play a drinking game and take a drink every time she gets Ludacris to smile. Ludacris then said go ahead take your first drink and smiled.
The first award of the evening was for Top Duo or Group and the award went to One Direction. Harry led the group to the stage. Just four of them as we know, but they did say they share the award with “our brother Zayn.”
Tracee Ellis Ross and Laverne Cox from Orange is the New Black were the next presenters to announce the nominees for Top Billboard 200 Album, and the award went to Taylor Swift for 1989. She hugged practically everyone in the front row before she went to the stage to get the trophy. She named a list of all the people she worked with on the album, and said to the fans, “I love you so much … thank you so much.”
Fall Out Boy was the next performance joined by Wiz Khalifa performing Uma Thurman. The next performance was Nick Jonas performing Jealous.
Next Chrissy introduced a performance by Meghan Trainor of Like I’m Going to Lose You with Chrissy’s husband John Legend.
Idina Menzel took the stage to introduce the one and only Mariah Carey. They rolled a video of her career highlights. Mariah hasn’t been on the billboard stage in 17 years. She performed Vision of Love live and switched to her new song Infinity. She struggled with a few of the notes and kept holding her hand to her ear, but in the end, she went for it and hit the final one.
The award for Top Rap Song was next and the Billboard Music Award went to Iggy Azalea and Charlie XCX. She made Charli speak first, but then thanked her label and her fans, “I appreciate you so much.”
Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson honored Paul Walker as they introduced Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa performing See you Again from Furious 7. It’s a very moving song and one of the best moments of the broadcast.
The winner of 10 Billboard Music Awards, Celine Dion was next and introduced the Top Male Artist and the Billboard Music Award went to Sam Smith. Sam Smith is in New York recovering from vocal surgery so he accepted his award on video with cue cards. It was very clever, Sam.
Taraji P. Henson took the stage to introduce a medley performed by her TV sons to celebrate the music of Empire. They started with Conqueror performed by Estelle and Jussie Smollett followed by You’re So Beautiful with Yazz.
Hozier was next and performed Take Me To Church, followed by One Direction taking on presenter duties for the Top Radio Song. The Billboard Music Award went to John Legend for All Of Me. He was thrilled. He said it was the first time he walked to the stage to accept one of these awards. He thanked his wife, record label and his fans.
Ludacris continued with a moment honoring B.B. King and said, “God Bless B.B. King,” as the camera shot ended on his famous guitar Lucille.
The show kept rolling with Little Big Town performing Girl Crush with Faith Hill. They brought the audience to their feet as well.
Ellen Pompeo was the next presenter for Top Female Artist, and the Billboard Music Award went to Taylor Swift. It was a big night for Taylor. She again hugged just about everyone in the front row before heading to the stage. She ended her speech with, “To all the girls out there I absolutely love you. Thank you for this award.”
Lady Gaga, One Direction, Katy Perry, The Rolling Stones, and Justin Timberlake had the highest grossing tours last year, but One Direction took the award for Top Touring Artist. Harry spoke this time and told the audience about their next tour dates.
Jennifer Lopez was next in a barely-there dress to introduce Pit Bull and Chris Brown’s performance of Like a Virgin Again. The audience wasn’t just standing, this time they were dancing.
Ed Sheeran took the stage next. He performed Bloodstream.
50 Cent and Rita Ora were the next presenters for the Top Hot 100 Artist and the award went to Meghan Trainor. It was a big surprise for Meghan and she said as much. She thanked her mom, dad and record label for believing in her as she fought back tears.
The show then threw to Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea performing their new song Pretty Girls.
The next award was for the Billboard Chart Achievement Award and it went to Taylor Swift. And again she hugged almost everyone in the front row before she took the stage. She is going to take some ribbing for that, but she was very happy to win the award.
Nicki Minaj rocked the stage performing her song The Night Is Still Young followed by Hey Mama with David Guetta.
Ludacris introduced Tori Kelly the Kia “One to Watch” artist as an up and coming performer. What a great opportunity to be introduced on the Billboard Music Awards. She took the opportunity and ran with it.
Molly Ringwald was next and introduced the tribute to the Breakfast Club. To celebrate director John Hughes and the 30th anniversary of the Breakfast Club, Simple Minds performed, Don’t You Forget About Me.
The next performer was Kelly Clarkson with her new song Invincible. And she “Ain’t a scared little girl no more.”
The award for Top Country Artist was next and the Billboard Music Award went to Florida Georgia Line. “God is so good,” and they ended their acceptance speech by saying, “We love you guys so much.”
John Legend was back with a remembrance of Ben E. King with a performance of Stand by Me by Imagine Dragons with King’s daughter and other relatives in the audience.
The award for Top Artist was next, the biggest award of the night. And the winner was Taylor Swift, and there she goes hugging everyone in the front row again. It was Taylor’s night for sure. “Oh, this is such a good night.” She ended her speech saying, “I love you” to the fans and, “I will see you on the 1989 tour.”
Kendal and Kylie Jenner were the next presenters to bring Kanye West to the stage performing All Day. Quite a bit of his lyrics had to be blackout by the censors, so much so that several seconds went by in complete silence. You also couldn’t see him through the fireworks effects. In fact, I don’t think we ever really saw him. You saw his silhouette. He went into his next song Black Skinhead, and it was more of the same. We saw him at the end in a cloud of smoke.
Chrissy and Ludacris then said good night with a final shot. Chrissy grimaced again after taking her drink as they closed the broadcast.
The great performances made the Billboard Music Awards a painless show to watch and it moved quickly for a three-hour broadcast.
Congratulation to all the winners.
Now on to the after parties!
Tanya Hart