We’re live blogging the 2019 Billboard Music Awards here.
The 2019 Billboard Music Awards are hosted by Kelly Clarkson for the second year in a row, and air live on NBC on Wednesday, May 1st at 8pm ET/PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The three-hour telecast will showcase this year’s hottest musical acts, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthy moments.
2019 Billboard Music Awards: See the List of Performers and Presenters
Reality stars who received awards tonight: Carrie Underwood (1), Adam Levine and Maroon 5 (4), Lauren Daigle (3), Tori Kelly (1) and Koryn Hawthorne (1).
Drake earned a record-setting 12 awards.
Taylor Swift opens the show with a live premiere of her new single “Me” featuring Panic! At the Disco. As usual, Taylor relies heavily on a backing track. And as far as the song is concerned. She’s not really breaking any new ground here. The performance features all the bright pastel colors from the music video. Oh look! Dancers hanging from the ceiling on umbrellas. Brandon and Taylor end up there too.
Here comes Kelly Clarkson to host the awards. She’s very chic in black. She chats with peeps in the audience including Terry Crews. They do a seat filler joke. Florida Georgia Line pretends not to know her. She sings their song back to them. That kicks off her killer cover medley. Ha. She’s covering Cardi B. After her big moment the rent a cop wants to arrest her. Paula Abdul refuses to recognize her! “You discovered me!” pleads Kelly. Heh.
Olivia Wilde, Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein from the movie Book Smart present Top R&B artist to…Ella Mai.
Next, Kelly introduces Halsey, who performs her hit “Without You.” Interpretive dance is involved. It’s a super dramatic contemporary routine with a female dancer.
The Florida Georgia Line dudes present Top Rock Artist to Imagine Dragons. Ohh. A pitch for banning gay conversion therapy for youth EVERYWHERE. It’s STILL legal in 34 states. Unacceptable.
Sarah and Erin Foster from Barely Famous introduce Ciara who performs her song “Thinking About You.” Jennifer Hudson in the audience is having fun. She’s doing a whole Janet Jackson deal with major booty shaking. Taylor Swift looks fake shocked.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oaTtT6q4TMc
Dave Bautista & Kumail Nanjiani present Top 200 Album to Drake for Scorpion. He shouts out Arya Stark for “putting in all that work.” OK then.
Kelly introduces Dan + Shay. They sing “Speechless” with Tori Kelly. Both have won awards tonight. Dan and Tori have some mighty powerful voices.
Sophie Turner and Tye Sheridan are next. They make spoilers jokes. The only thing that gets spoiled is Top New Artist, Juice WRLD.
Ohhh. The Jonas Brothers are next. Big reunion. Cause they know the money is BIG for that sort of thing. A medley of solo hits? Interesting. Nick and Joe kick off things with “Jealous.” And then that sexy on the beach song. Ha ha it’s “Cake by the Ocean.” The Jonas bro who disappeared arrives and now it’s time for the new song “Sucker.” It’s catchy!
Chrissy Metz and Justin Hartley from This is Us are next to present Top Duo or Group to K-POP sensations, BTS of course. The lead dude promises that they are all “the same” as they were six years ago before they became massive world-wide superstars.
Kiernan Shipka and Ross Lynch introduce Khalid who performs his hit “Talk.” Taylor Swift and Jennifer Hudson next together in the audience. He sings “Better” next.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VZgIkbIEjDk
Cobie Smulders and Eva Longoria present Top Male Artist to Drake. He addresses recent suicides vaguely. He pleads with everyone to reach out to each other. “Show somebody some love,” he says.
Model Ashley Graham introduces a woman who is more famous than ever. Ariana Grande sings “7 Rings.” Is her annoying brother Frankie one of the backup dancers? It looks like him.
Legend Madonna is next. She’s wearing a pirate eye patch. There’s some visual trickery going on here. She sings her new song “Medellín” featuring Maluma from her upcoming album Madame X. It all ends with a conga line. No really.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2vt4YvwOQg
Lauren Daigle is next to perform her hit “You Say.” Kelly calls her “Me and my momma’s favorite artist.” She wins THREE awards tonight.
Rob Gronkowski and Terry Crews are on stage. Rob calls America’s Got Talent AJT. This is awkward. Gronk is pretty embarrassing. The present Top Rap Song to Cardi B. for “I Like It.”
Jennifer Hudson is here to present Mariah Carey. She is receiving the Billboard Icon Award tonight. She performs her latest song, Hm. Pitchy! Now on to a medley of greatest hits. Man. Mariah’s gotta regret not taking care of her voic over the years OUCH. Plz stop with the shots of Tay tay dancing in the audience.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NwWqplI69L4
After her performance, Jennifer hands Mariah the award. She thanks her fans and blah blah blah. She’s had so many struggles, y’all.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IqNj22n3qm8
Jesse Spencer and Julianne Hough present Top Country Song to “Meant to Be” by Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha. They make vague references to using their big platform to “spread love.” Hmf they’re probably magas.
Sabrina Carpenter and Asher Angel introduce Panic! At the Disco who sing “Look Ma I Made It.” That was entertaining.
https://youtu.be/UljSLXoe03c
Now Kelly Clarkson takes the stage to perform her latest single “Broken & Beautiful” from her animated feature Ugly Dolls. There are backup kiddie singers. And Chrissy Metz tearing up in the audience.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HymEUA2lA0U
Julia Michaels and David Guetta present Top Rock Song to Panic! At the Disco for “High Hopes.” He shouts out to his parents in the audience, “Look Ma I made it!” he had to do it.
BTS and Halsey take the stage for the first live performance of their song “Genius.” There are SO MANY SCREAMING girls in the audience. SO MUCH RELYING ON TRACKS HAPPENING HERE. One of the BTS dudes is rapping in Korean. Or maybe I have no idea what he’s saying.
Becky G. and Kane Brown are on stage to present Top Hot 100 Song to Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B. for “Girls Like You.” Adam Levine and his band are total no shows. “Maroon 5 ain’t here but I am!” shouts Cardi.
Kelly Clarkson presents the last award of the night o Top Artist. And it is….DRAKE. He thanks his mom for driving him to DeGrassi and other stuff.
Ralph Macchio (!!!) and William Zabka introduce tonight’s “Throwback” performance. IT’S PAULER ABDUL! She performs a medley of her hits. It’s the 30 year anniversary of her first album. Ha. She’s tap dancing. She’s literally lip syncing to her old songs. She ain’t even pretending. She’s still got some dance moves though as she moves through “Straight Up,” and more. She’s dancing with the skat kat for “Opposites Attract.” I always found that kind of creepy. Performance ends with “Forever Your Girl” and confetti, as if she just won American Idol. Heh. Kelly runs out on stage to hug her. “That was insane! You know me now,” she says. Kelly announces that Drake broke a record (12!)for winning most Billboard Music Awards EVER.
https://youtu.be/TsrU_BEamL8
PHOTO GALLERY
Winners List
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist:
Cardi B
Drake -WINNER
Ariana Grande
Post Malone
Travis Scott
Top New Artist:
Bazzi
Juice WRLD – WINNER
Lil Baby
Dua Lipa
Ella Mai
Billboard Chart Achievement Award:
Dan + Shay
Drake
Ariana Grande – WINNER
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Dua Lipa
Top Male Artist:
Drake – WINNER
Post Malone
Travis Scott
Ed Sheeran
XXXTENTACION
Top Female Artist:
Cardi B
Ariana Grande – WINNER
Halsey
Ella Mai
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
BTS – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5
Panic! At The Disco
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Drake – WINNER
Ariana Grande
Post Malone
Travis Scott
XXXTENTACION
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Cardi B
Drake – WINNER
Ariana Grande
Juice WRLD
Post Malone
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Cardi B
Drake – WINNER
Ariana Grande
Post Malone
XXXTENTACION
Top Song Sales Artist:
Drake – WINNER
Ariana Grande
Imagine Dragons
Lady Gaga
Post Malone
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Cardi B
Drake – WINNER
Ariana Grande
Maroon 5
Post Malone
Top Social Artist:
BTS – WINNER
EXO
GOT7
Ariana Grande
Louis Tomlinson
Top Touring Artist:
Beyoncé & JAY-Z
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran – WINNER
Taylor Swift
Justin Timberlake
Top R&B Artist:
H.E.R.
Khalid
Ella Mai – WINNER
The Weeknd
XXXTENTACION
Top R&B Male Artist:
Khalid
The Weeknd – WINNER
XXXTENTACION
Top R&B Female Artist:
H.E.R.
Ella Mai – WINNER
Queen Naija
Top R&B Tour:
Beyoncé & JAY-Z – WINNER
Childish Gambino
Bruno Mars
Top Rap Artist:
Cardi B
Drake – WINNER
Juice WRLD
Post Malone
Travis Scott
Top Rap Male Artist:
Drake – WINNER
Post Malone
Travis Scott
Top Rap Female Artist:
Cardi B – WINNER
City Girls
Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Tour:
Beyoncé & JAY-Z – WINNER
Drake
Travis Scott
Top Country Artist:
Jason Aldean
Kane Brown
Luke Combs – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Top Country Male Artist:
Jason Aldean
Kane Brown
Luke Combs – WINNER
Top Country Female Artist:
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood – WINNER
Top Country Duo/Group:
Dan + Shay – WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney – WINNER
Shania Twain
Top Rock Artist:
Imagine Dragons – WINNER
lovelytheband
Panic! At The Disco
Queen
twenty one pilots
Top Rock Tour:
Elton John – WINNER
The Rolling Stones
U2
Top Latin Artist:
Anuel AA
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna – WINNER
Romeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
Calvin Harris
Kygo
Marshmello
ODESZA
The Chainsmokers – WINNER
Top Christian Artist:
Cory Asbury
Lauren Daigle – WINNER
for KING & COUNTRY
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe
Top Gospel Artist:
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tori Kelly
Tasha Cobbs Leonard – WINNER
Marvin Sapp
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Cardi B “Invasion of Privacy”
Drake “Scorpion” – WINNER
Post Malone “beerbongs & bentleys”
Travis Scott “ASTROWORLD”
XXXTENTACION “?”
Top Soundtrack:
“13 Reasons Why: Season 2”
“A Star is Born” by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
“The Greatest Showman” – WINNER
Top R&B Album:
Ella Mai “Ella Mai”
H.E.R. “H.E.R.”
Khalid “American Teen”
The Weeknd “My Dear Melancholy,”
XXXTENTACION “17” – WINNER
Top Rap Album:
Cardi B “Invasion of Privacy”
Drake “Scorpion” – WINNER
Post Malone “beerbongs & bentleys”
Travis Scott “ASTROWORLD”
XXXTENTACION “?”
Top Country Album:
Jason Aldean “Rearview Town”
Kane Brown “Kane Brown”
Luke Combs “This One’s For You” – WINNER
Dan + Shay “Dan + Shay”
Carrie Underwood “Cry Pretty”
Top Rock Album:
Dave Matthews Band “Come Tomorrow”
Imagine Dragons “Origins”
Mumford & Sons “Delta”
Panic! At This Disco “Pray For The Wicked” – WINNER
twenty one pilots “Trench”
Top Latin Album:
Anuel AA “Real Hasta la Muerte”
Bad Bunny “X 100PRE”
J Balvin “Vibras”
Maluma “F.A.M.E.”
Ozuna “Aura” – WINNER
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
Clean Bandit “What Is Love?”
David Guetta “7”
Kygo “Kids in Love”
Major Lazer “Major Lazer Essentials”
The Chainsmokers “Sick Boy” – WINNER
Top Christian Album:
Cory Asbury “Reckless Love”
Lauren Daigle “Look Up Child” – WINNER
for KING & COUNTRY “Burn The Ships”
Hillsong Worship “There Is More”
Zach Williams “Chain Breaker”
Top Gospel Album:
Snoop Dogg & Various Artists “Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love”
Aretha Franklin “Gospel Greats”
Koryn Hawthorne “Unstoppable”
Tori Kelly “Hiding Place” – WINNER
Jonathan McReynolds “Make Room”
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song:
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”
Juice WRLD “Lucid Dreams”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” – WINNER
Post Malone “Better Now”
Travis Scott “SICKO MODE”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”
Juice WRLD “Lucid Dreams”
Post Malone “Better Now”
Travis Scott “SICKO MODE” – WINNER
XXXTENTACION “SAD!”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Drake “In My Feelings” – WINNER
Juice WRLD “Lucid Dreams”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You”
Travis Scott “SICKO MODE”
XXXTENTACION “SAD!”
Top Selling Song:
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”
Drake “In My Feelings”
Halsey “Without Me”
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper “Shallow”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” – WINNER
Top Radio Song:
Khalid & Normani “Love Lies”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” – WINNER
Post Malone “Better Now”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be”
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey “The Middle”
Top Collaboration:
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”
Khalid & Normani “Love Lies”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” – WINNER
Marshmello & Bastille “Happier”
Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign “Psycho”
Top R&B Song:
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper & Quavo “No Brainer”
Ella Mai “Boo’d Up” – WINNER
Ella Mai “Trip”
Khalid “Better”
Lil Dicky ft. Chris Brown “Freaky Friday”
Top Rap Song:
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It” – WINNER
Drake “In My Feelings”
Juice WRLD “Lucid Dreams”
Post Malone “Better Now”
Travis Scott “SICKO MODE”
Top Country Song:
Kane Brown “Heaven”
Luke Combs “She Got the Best of Me”
Dan + Shay “Speechless”
Dan + Shay “Tequila”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be” – WINNER
Top Rock Song:
Foster The People “Sit Next to Me”
Imagine Dragons “Natural”
Imagine Dragons “Whatever It Takes”
lovelytheband “broken”
Panic! At The Disco “High Hopes” – WINNER
Top Latin Song:
Bad Bunny ft. Drake “Mia”
Daddy Yankee “Dura”
DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B “Taki Taki”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin “X”
Casper Magico, Nio Garcia, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny & Ozuna “Te Bote” – WINNER
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B “Taki Taki”
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa “One Kiss”
Marshmello & Bastille “Happier”
Tiësto & Dzeko ft. Preme & Post Malone “Jackie Chan”
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey “The Middle” – WINNER
Top Christian Song:
Cory Asbury “Reckless Love”
Lauren Daigle “You Say” Winner
for KING & COUNTRY “joy.”
Hillsong Worship “Who You Say I Am”
Tauren Wells “Known”
Top Gospel Song:
Todd Dulaney “Your Great Name”
Koryn Hawthorne “Won’t He Do It” – WINNER
Tori Kelly ft. Kirk Franklin “Never Alone”
Jason Nelson “Forever”
Brian Courtney Wilson “A Great Work”
