 "Billboard Music Awards 2017: Nicki Minaj performs on medley of hits; Drake wins big")
Los Angeles: Rapper Drake and The Chainsmokers were some names among the first winners at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.
Drake grabbed Top Male Artist Award, beating out the likes of Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Future and Shawn Mendes, reports aceshowbiz.com.
After accepting the trophy from actress Kate Beckinsale, Drake gracefully thanked his fans, saying, “I want to dedicate this award to the fans…we are nobody without those that keep up with us, I appreciate you.”
The Chainsmokers was also an early winner. The Electronic Dance Music (EDM) duo picked up Top Collaboration Award for their hit track ‘Closer’ with Halsey. Drake and the EDM duo are top contenders on the award-giving event with 22 nominations each.
Drake and The Chainsmokers were also announced as winners before the ceremony. Drake won ten early awards, including Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Album for ‘Views’ and Top R&B Song for ‘One Dance’. As for The Chainsmokers, the duo nabbed three early awards.
Another early winner was singer Beyonce Knowles. She won five awards, including Top Female Artist, Top Touring Artist and Top R&B album for her latest effort Lemonade. Meanwhile, trailing behind Beyonce was Twenty One Pilots with four early awards.
Rapper Nicki Minaj kicked off the event by singing a medley of her hits, including Lil Wayne-assisted song ‘No Frauds’ and ‘Regret in Your Tears’. She also brought out Jason Derulo to perform ‘Swalla’ and was later joined by David Guetta to perform ‘Light My Body Up’.
Drake definitely delivered a memorable performance at the event. Dressed in all white, the ‘Hotline Bling’ hitmaker was surrounded by water and fireworks while performing his song ‘Gyalchester’.
Another great moment at Billboard Music Awards was when singer Miley Cyrus performed a rendition of her new solo single ‘Malibu’. After being introduced by her father Billy Ray Cyrus and her sister Noah Cyrus, Miley took the stage to perform a country-tinged version of the breezy pop song.
Donning denim shorts, white off-the-shoulder top and cowboy hat, Miley held back tears by the end of the performance when colourful balloons poured from above.
This year’s Billboard Music Awards was full of show-stopping performances from A-list artists. Ed Sheeran was one of many performers who got the honour to rock the stage at T-Mobile Arena. Sporting a black T-shirt, the rising star delivered a spirited performance of his single ‘Castle on the Hill’.
Sheeran showcased his outstanding skill of playing guitar. While singing the song, he slayed the performance as he made the audiences sing and dance along with him.
Another massive winner, The Chainsmokers, also took the stage to unexpectedly perform an acoustic rendition of ‘Young’, a song off their latest effort Memories…Do Not Open. Sporting blue denim shirt, Andrew Taggart strummed a guitar on the intro. He was later joined by Alex Pall and Matt McGuire for the first televised performance of the song.
The full list of winners is:
Top Artist Adele Beyonce Justin Bieber The Chainsmokers Drake – WINNER Ariana Grande Shawn Mendes Rihanna Twenty One Pilots The Weeknd
Top New Artist Alessia Cara Desiigner Lil Uzi Vert Lukas Graham Zayn – WINNER
Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity: Luke Bryan Nicki Minaj The Chainsmokers The Weeknd Twenty One Pilots – WINNER Top Male Artist Justin Bieber Drake – WINNER Future Shawn Mendes The Weeknd
Top Female Artist Adele Beyonce – WINNER Ariana Grande Rihanna Sia
Top Duo/Group The Chainsmokers Coldplay Florida Georgia Line Guns N’ Roses Twenty One Pilots – WINNER
Top Billboard 200 Artist Beyonce Drake – WINNER Prince Twenty One Pilots The Weeknd
Top Hot 100 Artist The Chainsmokers Drake – WINNER Rihanna Twenty One Pilots The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist The Chainsmokers Drake – WINNER Prince Justin Timberlake Twenty One Pilots
Top Radio Songs Artist Justin Bieber The Chainsmokers Drake Rihanna Twenty One Pilots – WINNER Top Streaming Songs Artist The Chainsmokers Desiigner Drake – WINNER Rihanna Twenty One Pilots
Top Social Artist Justin Bieber BTS – WINNER Selena Gomez Ariana Grande Shawn Mendes
Top Touring Artist Justin Bieber Beyonce – WINNER Coldplay Guns N’ Roses Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Top R&B Artist Beyonce – WINNER Bruno Mars Frank Ocean Rihanna The Weeknd
Top R&B Tour Beyonce – WINNER Lionel Richie Rihanna
Top Rap Artist J. Cole Desiigner Drake – WINNER Future Rae Sremmurd
Top Rap Tour Drake – WINNER Future Kanye West
Top Country Artist Florida Georgia Line Blake Shelton – WINNER Keith Urban Chris Stapleton Jason Aldean
Top Country Tour Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney – WINNER Dixie Chicks
Top Rock Artist Coldplay The Lumineers Metallica Twenty One Pilots – WINNER X Ambassadors
Top Rock Tour: Coldplay – WINNER Guns N’ Roses Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Top Latin Artist J Balvin Juan Gabriel – WINNER Los Plebes Del Rancho De Ariel Camach Maluma Nicky Jam
Top Dance/Electronic Artist The Chainsmokers – WINNER Calvin Harris Major Lazer DJ Snake Lindsey Stirling
Top Christian Artist Lauren Daigle – WINNER Hillsong Worship Hillary Scott & the Family Skillet Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist
Jekalyn Carr Kirk Franklin – WINNER Travis Greene Tamela Mann Hezekiah Walker
Top Billboard 200 Album Beyonce, Lemonade Drake, Views – WINNER Rihanna, Anti Twenty One Pilots, Blurryface The Weeknd, Starboy
Top Soundtrack/Cast Album Hamilton: An American Musical – WINNER Moana Purple Rain Suicide Squad: The Album Trolls
Top R&B Album Beyonce, Lemonade – WINNER Bruno Mars, 24K Magic Frank Ocean, Blonde Rihanna, Anti The Weeknd, Starboy
Top Rap Album J. Cole, 4 Your Eyez Only Drake, Views – WINNER Kevin Gates, Isla DJ Khaled, Major Key A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It From Here.Thank You For Your Service
Top Country Album Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots Blake Shelton, If I’m Honest Chris Stapleton, Traveller – WINNER Keith Urban, Ripcord
Top Rock Album The Lumineers, Cleopatra Metallica, Hardwired.To Self Destruct – WINNER Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Getaway Twenty One Pilots, Blurryface
Top Latin Album J Balvin, Energia CNCO, Primera Cita Juan Gabriel, Los Duo 2 – WINNER Juan Gabriel, Vestido De Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallanes Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho, Recuerden Mi Estilo
Top Dance/Electronic Album The Chainsmokers, Bouquet The Chainsmokers, Collage Flume, Skin Kygo, Cloud Nine Lindsey Stirling, Brave Enough – WINNER Top Christian Album Casting Crowns, The Very Next Thing Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be – WINNER Joey + Rory, Hymns Hillary Scott & The Family, Love Remains Skillet, Unleashed
Top Gospel Album Tamela Mann, One Way – WINNER Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion Travis Greene, The Hill Tasha Cobbs, One Place: Live Hezekiah Walker, Better: Azusa - The Next Generation 2
Top Hot 100 Song The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, ‘Closer’ – WINNER The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, ‘One Dance’ Justin Timberlake, ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling!’ Twenty One Pilots, ‘Heathens’
Top Selling Song The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, ‘Closer’ The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ Drake Featuring, WizKid & Kyla ‘One Dance’ Justin Timberlake, ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling!’ – WINNER Twenty One Pilots, ‘Heathens’
Top Radio Song The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, ‘Closer’ The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, ‘One Dance’ Sia Featuring Sean Paul, ‘Cheap Thrills’ Justin Timberlake, ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling!’ – WINNER
Top Streaming Song (Audio) The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, ‘Closer’ Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, ‘One Dance’ – WINNER D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty, ‘Broccoli’ Rihanna, ‘Needed Me’ The Weeknd Featuring Daft Punk, ‘Starboy’
Top Streaming Song (Video) The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, ‘Closer’ Desiigner, ‘Panda’ – WINNER Zay Hilfigerr & Zayion McCall, ‘JuJu On That Beat (TZ Anthem)’ Rae Sremmurd Featuring Gucci Mane, ‘Black Beatles’ Twenty One Pilots, ‘Heathens’
Top Collaboration The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, ‘Closer" – WINNER The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, ‘One Dance’ Sia Featuring Sean Paul, ‘Cheap Thrills’ The Weeknd Featuring Daft Punk,‘Starboy’
Top R&B Song Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, ‘One Dance’ – WINNER Bruno Mars, ‘24K Magic’ Rihanna, ‘Needed Me’ Rihanna Featuring Drake, ‘Work’ The Weeknd Featuring Daft Punk, ‘Starboy’
Top R&B Collaboration: Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, ‘One Dance’ – WINNER PARTYNEXTDOOR Featuring Drake, ‘Come And See Me’ Rihanna Featuring Drake, ‘Work’ The Weeknd Featuring Daft Punk ‘I Feel It Coming’ The Weeknd Featuring Daft Punk,‘Starboy’
Top Rap Song Desiigner, ‘Panda’ – WINNER Drake, ‘Fake Love’ D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty, ‘Broccoli’ Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert, ‘Bad And Boujee’ Rae Sremmurd Featuring Gucci Mane, ‘Black Beatles’
Top Rap Collaboration D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty, ‘Broccoli’ Zay Hilfigerr & Zayion McCall, ‘JuJu On That Beat (TZ Anthem)’ Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello, ‘Bad Things’ Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert, ‘Bad and Boujee’ Rae Sremmurd Featuring Gucci Mane, ‘Black Beatles’ – WINNER Top Country Song Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, ‘Setting The World On Fire’ Florida Georgia Line, ‘H.O.L.Y.’ – WINNER Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, ‘May We All’ Little Big Town, ‘Better Man’ Keith Urban, ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color’
Top Country Collaboration Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King, ‘Different For Girls’ Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, ‘Setting The World On Fire’ – WINNER Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens, ‘Kill A Word’ Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, ‘May We All’ Chris Young Featuring Vince Gill, ‘Sober Saturday Night’
Top Rock Song: Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons with Logic & Ty Dolla $ign Featuring X Ambassadors, ‘Sucker For Pain’ Twenty One Pilots, ‘Heathens’ – WINNER Twenty One Pilots, ‘Ride’ Twenty One Pilots, ‘Stressed Out’ X Ambassadors, ‘Unsteady’
Top Latin Song Daddy Yankee, ‘Shaky Shaky’ Enrique Iglesias Featuring Wisin, ‘Duele El Corazon’ Nicky Jam, ‘Hasta El Amanecer’ – WINNER Shakira Featuring Maluma, ‘Chantaje’ Carlos Vives & Shakira, ‘La Bicicleta’
Top Dance/Electronic Song The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, ‘Closer’ – WINNER The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ Calvin Harris Featuring Rihanna, ‘This Is What You Came For’ Major Lazer Featuring Justin Bieber & MO, Cold Water’ DJ Snake Featuring Justin Bieber, ‘Let Me Love You’
Top Christian Song Lauren Daigle, ‘Trust In You’ Hillary Scott & The Family, ‘Thy Will’ – WINNER Skillet, ‘Feel Invincible’ Ryan Stevenson Featuring GabeReal, ‘Eye Of The Storm’ Zach Williams, ‘Chain Breaker’
With inputs from agencies.
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