The Big Moments from the 2021 Billboard Music Awards
The Billboard Music Awards took place today at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday May 23. Hosted by NickJonas,
Victoria Liotta
The Billboard Music Awards took place today at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday May 23. Hosted by NickJonas, the ceremony used chart data from March 21, 2020 through April 3, 2021. Winners were based on “key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay and social engagement tracked by Billboard and data partners.” Whereas, the Top Social Artist and Top Collaboration categories were fan-voted.
The BBMA’s had a range of performers includingthe Jonas Brothers with Marshmello, H.E.R., Migos, DJ Khaled and more. There was a powerful performance from P!NK, who received the Icon Award—an award earned by only nine other artists like Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and Prince. Alongside the incredible performances, viewers were graced by the company of presenters from all genres of entertainment. Gabrielle Union, Swizz Beatz, Chelsea Handler, TikTok star Dixie D’Amelio and more, presented at the 2021 award show, with Tina Knowles-Lawson (yes Beyoncé’s mom) who presented Trae Tha Truth with the Change Maker Award.
All the Glam
Celebrities who attended the 2021 BBMA’s came dressed to impress. After a year of accepting awards from behind their screens it was only right to bring out their sexiest most eye-catching attire.
SZA, who was nominated for Best Female R&B artist, received a show stopping glammed out make-up look from makeup artist Deanna Paley who partnered with Charlotte Tilbury Beauty. Paley used their best-selling Airbrush Flawless franchise to create beautiful and poreless-looking skin for both on the carpet and behind the camera lense. Paley shared “SZA’s red carpet dress was a total show-stopper. To complement its striking silhouette, we wanted her beauty look to be soft and romantic. We started by creating a flawless, airbrushed complexion and then accentuated her natural beauty with universally-flattering, sumptuous hues of blush-pink.”
Priyanka Chopra wore the spotlight in a glitter gold crystal mesh Dolce & Gabbana gown. It’s plunging neckline and thigh-high slit tastefully drew attention to her glowing skin while the gold harness belt accentuated her natural curves. She accessorized with gold ankle-strap sandals and almost 40 carats-worth of Bulgari jewels. Alicia Keys made sure to have all eyes on her with a custom pink Valentino fit. It featured a voluminous cape, which sat perfectly below her shoulders and over a crop top with matching high-waisted pants. Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly served nothing but looks on the carpet with Fox wearing a cutout bodysuit with a black mesh ruched midi skirt layered over and MGK in a deconstructed tuxedo with an unbuttoned and untucked shirt. Fox also stunned viewers with a “classic beauty look” from makeup artist Monika Blunder who also partnered up with Charlotte Tilbury Beauty. Lena Waithe kept it clean in a mint green suit paired with a forest green shirt and white loafers. And it only stayed exciting as the carpet continued with stunning looks from Padma Lakshmi, Saweetie, and more.
All the Entertainment
The ceremony had a combination of live performances as well as remote ones; one of the most anticipated being global superstars BTS. They took the stage from South Korea and performed their brand new single which dropped Friday, “Butter.”
P!nk, who has had two decades worth of hits in pop style music, earned the Icon Award and performed a medley of her biggest tracks in an unforgettable way. She began her set with a passionate aerial performance with her daughter, Willow, to her recent single “Cover Me In Sunshine.” She wore a black sparkly leotard and her daughter, 9, wore a light pink one. After the two shared a hug and high five before Willow left the stage, the singer followed up with another newly-released single “All I Know So Far.” And then she really got the party when she brought us back in time with hits including “So What,” “Who Knew?,” and ending with “Just Give Me a Reason.” She spread love and positivity in her acceptance speech saying “all you guys out there, and around the world, thank you for coming out. Thank you for letting us all heal together. I can’t wait until we can do it again, ‘til we can just sweat all over each other. And, just, this is an absolute honor. Dream big, because what if it comes true?”
The pop trio, AJR performed their hits “BANG!” and “Way Less Sad”. They came to the stage backed by a horn section and with colorful flares of smoke throughout the duration of their set. Prior to their performance, the group received their first win, for top rock song, for their track “BANG!.”
Other performances included TheWeeknd, Alicia Keys, BadBunny, KarolG, Twenty One Pilots, Duran Duran, Glass Animals, Doja Cat and SZA.
All the Winners
The Weeknd took the lead in nominations with a total of 16. Trailing not too far behind him was DaBaby with 11, the late PopSmoke with 10, Gabby Barrett with 9, and then Megan Thee Stallion with 7 nominations. And for those who missed it because they got too deep into their Sunday Netflix binge, here’s a complete list of winners from the 2021 BBMA’s.
Top Artist
The Weeknd
Top New Artist
Pop Smoke
Top Male Artist
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
BTS
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Drake
Top Song Sales Artist
BTS
Top Radio Songs Artist
The Weeknd
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)
BTS
Top R&B Artist
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat
Top Rap Artist
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Male Artist
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Female Artist
Megan Thee Stallion
Top Country Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Male Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist
Gabby Barrett
Top Country Duo/Group
Florida Georgia Line
Top Rock Artist
Five Finger Death Punch
Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny
Top Latin Female Artist
Karol G
Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabón Armado
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Lady Gaga
Top Christian Artist
Elevation Worship
Top Gospel Artist
Kanye West
Top Billboard 200 Album
Pop Smoke – Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
Top R&B Album
The Weeknd – After Hours
Top Rap Album
Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars – Aim for the Moon
Top Country Album
Morgan Wallen – Dangerous: The Double Album
Top Rock Album
Machine Gun Kelly – Tickets to My Downfall
Top Latin Album
Bad Bunny – YHLQMDLG
Top Dance/Electronic Album
Lady Gaga – Chromatica
Top Christian Album
Carrie Underwood – My Gift
Top Gospel Album
Maverick City Music – Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1
Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Streaming Song
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Top Selling Song
BTS “Dynamite”
Top Radio Song
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Top R&B Song
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Rap Song
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Top Country Song
Gabby Barrett “I Hope”
Top Rock Song
AJR “Bang!”
Top Latin Song
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez “Dákiti”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
SAINt JHN “Roses (Imanbek Remix)”
Top Christian Song
Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake “Graves Into Gardens”
Top Gospel Song
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott “Wash Us In The Blood”