Opening act

It was all glitter and glow with #BBMAs taking off with Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco singing ME!. The performance started off with a marching band drumming away while Taylor Swift arrived on stage in a shimmy silver, pink and golden dress. After some dancing, Brendon landed (quite literally!) on stage, while holding an umbrella. The performance was taken to a different level with a mixture of dance and acrobatics. Later that night, Panic! in the Disco won two awards — for Top Rock Album and Top Rock Song.

It was a big night for Paula Abdul Sourced by The Telegraph

The winner takes it all

Champagne Papi aka Drake now holds the record for the most wins in the Billboard Music Awards. Not only did he bag the award for Billboard Top Artist but also took home trophies for Top Male Artist and Top Billboard 200 album for Scorpions. “I gotta thank everybody that gave their time and energy for this album and stayed away from family and friends just to work on it. I need a glass of champagne!” said Drake. And the artist did exactly that when he came on stage once again to collect his Top Male Artist award.

The In My Feelings singer also gave a shout-out to Game of Thrones’s Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, in his acceptance speech. “Shout-out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week!”

The speech

After accepting their award for Top Rock Artist, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds took the opportunity to spread awareness about conversion therapy. “There are still 34 states that have no laws banning conversion therapy. Fifty-four per cent of our LGBTQ population live in those states,” he said. He asked the audience to bring up the matter of conversion therapy with the state legislators and to protect the LGBTQ community.

Mariah Carey was the diva of the night Sourced by The Telegraph

Loudest cheers

Of course the crowd went wild when BTS was rocking the stage! Bonus? Halsey joined the boy band for their single Boy With Luv. Dressed in black suits and white and black shoes, the group gave a power-packed performance with their dance moves, stylish freezes and rapping. The Korean band won the award for Top Duo/Group. “Thank you ARMY, can’t believe we are here on stage with so many artistes. Oh my God! This was only possible because of the little things we share together. The BTS and Army power! We are still the same boys of six years ago, we still have the same dreams, we still have the same thoughts, so let’s keep dreaming the best dreams together. Thank you, I love you all,” said lead singer RM.

The crowd went wild when BTS was rocking the stage with Halsey Sourced by The Telegraph

Double win

Dressed in a purple layered dress, Cardi B won two awards — Top Rap Song for I Like It and Top Hot 100 song for Girls Like You. Before getting off stage she hits the audience with “What’s good? I’m outta here!”

Cardi B won two awards — Top Rap Song for I Like It and Top Hot 100 song for Girls Like You. Sourced by The Telegraph

Comeback boys

After six years of breaking away from The Jonas Brothers and going their separate ways, Joe, Nick and Kevin reunited on stage just like Camp Rock times. Their performance took off with Nick (left) singing Jealous to which Joe (centre) joined in before jumping into Cake by the Ocean. Finally, the three jammed to Sucker For You, their most recent single. Another highlight of their performance — a quick kiss that Nick Jonas gave to wife Priyanka Chopra (inset).

The forever divas

Madonna was literally everywhere! The singer had holograms of herself dancing on stage while performing Medellin with Colombian singer Maluma. It was the first time in four years that the legendary singer performed a new song. The duo put up a winner of an act, complete with CGI-created rainfall, numerous stage setups and fireworks.

It was a big night for Paula Abdul as well. The veteran artiste was performing two weeks after the death of her father Henry. She sang a mash-up of her hits — Straight Up, (It’s Just) The Way That You Love Me, Opposites Attract, Cold Hearted and Forever Your Girl which was on the Billboard charts for 64 weeks. After her stunning performance, which included jumping from heights and falling into the arms of the dancers, the singer received a standing ovation.

Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds spreads awareness about conversion therapy Sourced by The Telegraph

The Jonas Brothers Sourced by The Telegraph

Shero

Mariah Carey was the diva of the night, stunning in a black, sparkly, slit dress. Before being crowned Billboard Icon by Jennifer Hudson, Carey sang a medley of her hits, starting from A No No, Always Be My Baby and Emotions and moving on to We Belong Together and Hero. She had tears in her eyes by the time she was done performing, while her twins Moroccan and Monroe kept cheering her on even as she wished them for their eighth birthday. “I want to thank all the people who’ve been with me on this journey... through the highs and lows, through your struggles and mine. And to anybody who doesn’t allow themselves to be broken and keeps getting up and keeps holding on and keeps standing tall and keeps on believing and keeps rising. I celebrate you tonight. And to anyone who has ever told me that a song I wrote helped save your life I thank you because you saved mine and I’ll be eternally grateful,” said the 49-year-old singer.

Drake now holds the record for the most wins in the Billboard Music Awards. Sourced by The Telegraph