The 2021 Billboard Music Awards were hosted by Nick Jonas Sunday night, and aired live from the Microsoft Theater in L.A. on NBC. Because this is 2021 and we’re just emerging from a rampaging pandemic, the festivities were a little different this year. Still, they were several bedazzled steps up from last year, and featured a mix of remote and in-person performances. 

This time around, the party got started courtesy of an energetic performance from DJ Khaled. Jonas then welcomed the audience, celebrating the fact that “we are all back together again” with COVID precautions in place. 

Going in, The Weeknd was a finalist in 16 categories, including Top Artist, with DaBaby following in 11 categories, including as a multi-finalist in the Top Streaming Song category for “Rockstar” and “Whats Poppin.” The late Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD were up for posthumous nods. 

Ultimately, The Weeknd won big. His bag of awards included Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top 100 Artist, Top 100 Song, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album, Top R&B Song and Top Radio Songs Artist. 

HIGHLIGHTS & PERFORMANCES

Presenters included Lena Waithe, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., Cynthia Erivo, Henry Golding, Dixie D’Amelio, Lil Rel Howery, Gabrielle Union, Kelsea Ballerini, Chelsea Handler, Kathryn Hahn, Padma Lakshmi, Tina Knowles-Lawson and Swizz Beatz

Doja Cat and SZA performed a smoking “Kiss Me More.”

21 Pilots hit the stage to rock “Shy Away.” 

Alicia Keys was honored two decades after the R&B became a household name by former First Lady Michelle Obama. Keys then performed a medley of her hits from her star-making album, Songs in A Minor.

AJR came out with a “Bang!” 

Bon Jovi toasted Pinks artistry before presenting her with the Icon Award for 2021. She joined the ranks of Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson; she also performed a medley of her hits and then thanked her fans and reminded everyone to “dream big.”

The Weeknd thanked his fans and said “the dawn is coming” as he accepted the award for Top 100 Song. 

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis performed “Optimistic” with Sounds of Blackness and Ann Nesby

Karol G performed a medley of her hits “Bichota” and “El Makinon.”

Rapper and social activist Trae Tha Truth snagged the second annual Change Maker Award. He said: “Me, I come from the streets. We’ve got to protect our women, our children and our elders.”

BTS beamed in from South Korea to perform “Butter.”

Bad Bunny performed “Te Deseo Lo Mejor” from his 2020 album El Último Tour Del Mundo, which made history as the first all-Spanish-language album to hit No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. 

Machine Gun Kelly reminded fans to not let the “universe take a dream from you.” He also thanked his “twin soul” for showing him “love,” presumably a reference to girlfriend Megan Fox. (The pair packed on the PDA on the red carpet; he painted his tongue black ahead of the show). 

Glass Animals delivered “Heat Waves.”

The Weeknd brought “Blinding Lights.”

Pop Smoke’s mother, Audrey Jackson, accepted the award for Top Billboard 200 Album posthumously.

Duran Duran performed a medley including “Hungry Like a Wolf” and “Notorious” from London. 

Drake accepted the Artist of the Decade Award with humility and grace. He holds the record for the most Billboard Music Awards, with 27, and breaking several Billboard records, including have nine No. 1 albums and 33 top 10 songs on the Hot 100. “Being so unsure how you get it done … feeling so lucky and blessed, the fear of losing it keeps you up at night.”

Billboard 2021 Winners Include:  

Top Artist: The Weeknd 

Top 100 Artist: The Weeknd 

Top Selling Song: BTS “Dynamite”

Top 100 Song: The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"

Top Billboard 200 Album: Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon

Top Rap Song: DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR”

Top Rock Artist: Machine Gun Kelly 

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 Streaming Songs Artist: Drake

Top Song Sales Artist: BTS 

Top Radio Songs Artist: The Weeknd

Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)BTS 

Artist of the Decade: Drake 

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 Female Artist: Gabby Barrett

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 Duo/Group: Eslabón Armado

Top Latin Female Artist: Karol G

Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga

Top Christian Artist: Elevation Worship

Top Gospel Artist: Kanye West

Top R&B Album: The Weeknd

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 Streaming Song: DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR”

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 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”

BROADCAST SOUND:

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 DaBaby accepted the award for Top Rap Song :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Drake accepted the award for Artist of the Decade :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Gabby Barrett accepted the award for Top Country Female Artist :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Machine Gun Kelly accepted the award for Best Rock Artist :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Michelle Obama honored Alicia Keys as a performer human and activist :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Nick Jonas kicked things off :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Pink accepted the award for Icon Award :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Pop Smokes mother Audrey Jackson accepted the award for Top Billboard 200 Album :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 The Weeknd accepted the award for Top 100 Artist :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 The Weeknd accepted the award for Top Artist :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 The Weeknd thanked his fans for the Top 100 Song award :

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS 2021 Trae the Truth accepted the second annual Change Maker Award :