At the 2021 Billboard Music Awards which aired Sunday night, singer The Weeknd was the man of the moment, sweeping most of the awards. Pop Smoke received posthumous awards as well.
The live show was held at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles and was hosted by Nick Jonas. Artists took home awards in several categories that were announced off-air though some had their moments on stage.
Abel Tesfaye popularly known by his stage name The Weeknd swept home 10 awards including Top Male Artist, the Top 100 artist, the first award given out on the live broadcast, top radio songs artist, top R&B artist, and top R&B male artist. His album, “After Hours”, was named top R&B album, with his single “Blinding Lights” winning for top radio song and top R&B song.
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Drake is Billboard history, and he keeps raking in awards each year. To date, he is the artist with the most Billboard awards. He took home the Artist of the Decade Award with his three-year-old son Adonis Graham on stage. “That video was really full of a lot of confidence and bravado, but the truth is I’m really bad at taking compliments,” he said of a video singing his praises briefly before he appeared on stage. “Even if I do a good job, I always wonder, how could I have done it better?”
“I didn’t really write a grandiose speech about how to make it work or what it took because to be really honest with you, I don’t quite understand it myself. …. I just know that I’ve spent an incalculable number of hours trying to analyze all the things I did wrong, but tonight for once I’m sure as hell we’ve done something right,” he added.
The Canadian rapper also walked away with an award for top streaming sales artist.
Kanye West’s gospel music had him taking home two awards for top gospel artist and top gospel song which he won off-air.
Rapper Pop Smoke, who died in February 2020 from gunshot wounds after four intruders broke into his home, won Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, as well as Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Rap Album for Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.
The 20-year-old’s trap music has paved way for many acts to shine in that genre and his mother Audrey Jackson accepted the top Billboard 200 album during the live telecast.
Other award winners were Megan Thee Stallion for top rap female artist and Doja Cat for Top R&B Female Artist. Houston native Trae Tha Truth won the Change Maker Award for his “unwavering dedication to fighting for, and delivering, social and medical equity in his community.”
Here is a complete list of all the winners for the night.
Top Artist: The Weeknd
Icon Award: Pink
Artist of the Decade: Drake
Change Maker Award: Trae Tha Truth
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 Billboard 100 Artist: The Weeknd
Top Streamings Song Artist: Drake
Top Song Sales Artist: BTS
Top Radio Songs Artist: The Weeknd
Top Social Artist: 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 Duo/Group: Florida Georgia Line
Top Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Male Artist: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Female Artist: Karol G
Top Latin Duo/Group: Eslabón Armado
Top Rock Artist: Machine Gun Kelly
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: 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/Electric 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”
