Top Moments From the 2021 Billboard Music Awards 

The Weeknd won big, BTS debuted “Butter” on TV, and Drake brought his son to the stage. 

The 2021 Billboard Music Awards were presented on Sunday with a set of performances and special guests. The Nick Jonas-hosted event honored some of the past year’s top artists based on their performance on the Billboard charts and fan interactions, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, and social engagement. 

The Weeknd was the biggest winner of the night, taking home ten awards, including the coveted Top Artist prize. Pop Smoke won five, followed by BTS and Bad Bunny with four each. Drake, P!nk, and Trae Tha Truth were also honored with special achievement awards. 

Take a look at some of our favorite moments from the show and the full list of winners below:

Live audiences are back

DJ Khaled, H.E.R. and Migos opened the show outside the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with their track “We Going Crazy” to a live, masked audience. Though we’re still not 100% back to Normal Times, it was nice seeing such a lively performance and an energetic crowd after a year of social distancing. 

Alicia Keys being iconic, as usual

Michelle Obama introduced Alicia Keys, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of her iconic debut album, Songs in A Minor, released in June, 2001, with a powerful medley of “Piano & I,” “A Woman’s Worth,” her Prince cover “How Come You Don’t Call Me,” and “Fallin” – the album’s lead single and her first Billboard Hot 100 no.1. Keys alternated between a white piano, a red keyboard, and a rainbow-colored piano for the show. 

“You broke my heart!”

P!nk presented a medley of some of her most iconic tracks, including “So What,” “Get the Party Started,” and “Blow Me (One Last Kiss).” She was joined by her daughter, Willow, for a stunning acrobatic performance of the singer’s latest single, “Cover Me In Sunshine.”

The singer later accepted the Icon Award from none other than Jon Bon Jovi – and revealed she was devastated when she learned the rock star had married Dorothea Hurley in the ‘80s. “I was 8, I ripped your poster off the wall, I replaced you with Sebastian Bach,” P!nk joked. “I’m very glad that you found lasting love, Jon, but you broke my heart! I take this as an apology, and I accept.”

The Weeknd’s evening

The Weeknd performed “Save Your Tears” at a parking lot with a car-coordinated choreography – and no red suit on sight. The singer won ten of the 16 categories he was running for, including Top Artist, Top Male Artist, and Top Hot 100 Artist. During his final acceptance speech of the evening, he thanked his fans and hinted at new upcoming work: “I just want to say, the After Hours are done, and the dawn is coming.”

Bad Bunny brings up the heat

Bad Bunny was also one of the big winners of the night, picking up four awards in the Latin categories, including Top Latin Artist for the second year in a row. Later, the rapper took to the stage in a white fur coat decorated with a matching lobster to perform his alt-rock hit “Te Deseo Lo Mejor,” from his 2020 album El Último Tour Del Mundo – giving us one of the fiercest performances of the show. 

BTS debuts “Butter” on TV

BTS performed their latest track “Butter” for the first time on TV straight from a recreated Billboard red carpet and stage in Seoul. The K-pop icons tied with Bad Bunny and took home the awards for Top Song Sales Artist, Top Duo/Group, Top Social Artist (fan-voted), and Top Selling Song for “Dynamite.” 

Drake and his son

Drake was honored with the Artist of the Decade award and accepted the prize accompanied by his adorable 3-year-old son Adonis – the two were hugging during the entire acceptance speech and the audience couldn’t hide their joy with the moment. With 29 awards, the rapper is the biggest winner in BBMAs history. “The truth is, I’m really bad at taking compliments,” he said. “I’m really self-conscious about my music and even if I do a good job I always wonder how I could’ve done it better.” 

2021 Billboard Music Awards Winners:

Top Artist

Drake

Juice WRLD

Pop Smoke

Taylor Swift

The Weeknd [WINNER]

Top New Artist

Gabby Barrett

Doja Cat

Jack Harlow

Pop Smoke [WINNER]

Rod Wave

Top Male Artist

Drake

Juice WRLD

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke

The Weeknd [WINNER]

Top Female Artist

Billie Eilish

Ariana Grande

Dua Lipa

Megan Thee Stallion

Taylor Swift [WINNER]

Top Duo/Group

AC/DC

AJR

BTS [WINNER]

Dan + Shay

Maroon 5

Top Billboard 200 Artist

Drake

Juice WRLD

Pop Smoke

Post Malone

Taylor Swift [WINNER]

Top Hot 100 Artist

DaBaby

Drake

Dua Lipa

Pop Smoke

The Weeknd [WINNER]

Top Streaming Songs Artist

DaBaby

Drake [WINNER]

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke

The Weeknd

Top Song Sales Artist

Justin Bieber

BTS [WINNER]

Megan Thee Stallion

Morgan Wallen

The Weeknd

Top Radio Songs Artist

Justin Bieber

Lewis Capaldi

Dua Lipa

Harry Styles

The Weeknd [WINNER]

Top Social Artist (Fan-Voted)

BLACKPINK

BTS [WINNER]

Ariana Grande

SB19

Seventeen

Top R&B Artist

Jhené Aiko

Justin Bieber

Chris Brown

Doja Cat

The Weeknd [WINNER]

Top R&B Male Artist

Justin Bieber

Chris Brown

The Weeknd [WINNER]

Top R&B Female Artist

Jhené Aiko

Doja Cat [WINNER]

SZA

Top Rap Artist

DaBaby

Drake

Juice WRLD

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke [WINNER]

Top Rap Male Artist

Juice WRLD

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke [WINNER]

Top Rap Female Artist

Cardi B

Megan Thee Stallion [WINNER]

Saweetie

Top Country Artist

Gabby Barrett

Kane Brown

Luke Combs

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen [WINNER]

Top Country Male Artist

Luke Combs

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen [WINNER]

Top Country Female Artist

Gabby Barrett [WINNER]

Maren Morris

Carrie Underwood

Top Country Duo/Group

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line [WINNER]

Maddie & Tae

Top Rock Artist

AC/DC

AJR

Five Finger Death Punch

Machine Gun Kelly [WINNER]

twenty one pilots

Top Latin Artist

Anuel AA

Bad Bunny [WINNER]

J Balvin

Maluma

Ozuna

Top Latin Male Artist

Bad Bunny [WINNER]

J Balvin

Ozuna

Top Latin Female Artist

Becky G

Karol G [WINNER]

Rosalía

Top Latin Duo/Group

Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga

Eslabón Armado [WINNER]

Los Dos Carnales

Top Dance/Electronic Artist

The Chainsmokers

Kygo

Lady Gaga [WINNER]

Marshmello

Surf Mesa

Top Christian Artist

Casting Crowns

Elevation Worship [WINNER]

for KING & COUNTRY

Carrie Underwood

Zach Williams

Top Gospel Artist

Kirk Franklin

Koryn Hawthorne

Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Maverick City Music

Kanye West [WINNER]

Top Billboard 200 Album

Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die

Lil Baby, My Turn

Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon [WINNER]

Taylor Swift, folklore

The Weeknd, After Hours

Top R&B Album

Jhené Aiko, Chilombo

Chris Brown & Young Thug, Slime & B

Doja Cat, Hot Pink

Kehlani, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t

The Weeknd, After Hours [WINNER]

Top Rap Album

DaBaby, Blame It On Baby

Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die

Lil Baby, My Turn

Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake

Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon [WINNER]

Top Country Album

Gabby Barrett, Goldmine

Sam Hunt, Southside

Chris Stapleton, Starting Over

Carrie Underwood, My Gift

Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album [WINNER]

Top Rock Album

AC/DC, Power Up

Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts

Glass Animals, Dreamland

Machine Gun Kelly, Tickets to My Downfall [WINNER]

Bruce Springsteen, Letter to You

Top Latin Album

Anuel AA, Emmanuel

Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo

Bad Bunny, Las que no iban a salir

Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG [WINNER]

J Balvin, Colores

Top Dance/Electronic Album

DJ Snake, Carte Blanche

Gryffin, Gravity

Kygo, Golden Hour

Lady Gaga, Chromatica [WINNER]

Kylie Minogue, Disco

Top Christian Album

Bethel Music, Peace

Elevation Worship, Grave Into Gardens

Carrie Underwood, My Gift [WINNER]

We The Kingdom, Holy Water

Zach Williams, Rescue Story

Top Gospel Album

Koryn Hawthorne, I AM

Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Royalty: Live at the Ryman

Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 [WINNER]

Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2

Kierra Sheard, Kierra

Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar

24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood”

Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope”

Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”

DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR”

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” [WINNER]

Top Streaming Song

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”

DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” [WINNER]

Future ft. Drake, “Life Is Good”

Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN”

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

Top Selling Song

Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope”

BTS, “Dynamite” [WINNER]

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”

Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage”

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

Top Radio Song

Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope”

Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”

Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”

Harry Styles, “Adore You”

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” [WINNER]

Top Collaboration (Fan-Voted)

24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood”

Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” [WINNER]

Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”

DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR”

Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN”

Top R&B Song

Jhené Aiko ft. H.E.R., “B.S.”

Justin Bieber ft. Quavo, “Intentions”

Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”

Doja Cat, “Say So”

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” [WINNER]

Top Rap Song

24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood”

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”

DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” [WINNER]

Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN”

Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage”

Top Country Song

Jason Aldean, “Got What I Got”

Gabby Barrett, “I Hope” [WINNER]

Lee Brice, “One of Them Girls”

Morgan Wallen, “Chasin’ You”

Morgan Wallen, “More Than My Hometown”

Top Rock Song

AJR, “Bang!” [WINNER]

All Time Low ft. blackbear, “Monsters”

Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”

Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear, “my ex’s best friend”

twenty one pilots, “Level of Concern”

Top Latin Song

Bad Bunny, “Yo Perreo Sola”

Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti” [WINNER]

Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”

Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”

Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers, “Caramelo”

Top Dance/Electronic Song

Lady Gaga, “Stupid Love”

Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain on Me”

SAINt JHN, “Roses (Imanbek Remix)” [WINNER]

Surf Mesa ft. Emilee, “ily (i love you baby)”

Topic & A7S, “Breaking Me”

Top Christian Song

Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake, “Graves Into Gardens” [WINNER]

for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly, “TOGETHER”

Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Worship, “The Blessing (Live)”

Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson, “Famous For (I Believe)”

Zach Williams & Dolly Parton, “There Was Jesus”

Top Gospel Song

Koryn Hawthorne, “Speak To Me”

Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, “Movin’ On”

Marvin Sapp, “Thank You For It All”

Tye Tribbett, “We Gon’ Be Alright”

Kanye West ft. Travis Scott, “Wash Us In The Blood” [WINNER]

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