After some outrage following the initial announcement that she would be the sole performer of the Prince tribute at this year’s Billboard Music Awards, Madonna last night (May 22) redeemed herself by performing what has been described as a “stunning” tribute, and by not being the sole performer after all.
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Britney Spears – clearly lip syncing – kicked off the show in a shimmery red number with a performance that featured several of her hits, from “I’m a Slave 4 U” and “Toxic”, and some of her signature dance moves. The hit-making producer and his record label gave Kesha the OK to perform after she said she would not use the stage to discuss their ongoing lawsuit.
With the awards based on commercial results and popularity, the evening was dominated by a string of dramatic performances rather than any suspense over the winners. Stevie Wonder joined her in the performance, at one point singing “Prince, we’ll love you forever”, as the audience sang along. Madonna came under fire late yesterday for her tribute to Prince during the Billboard Music Awards ceremony, which critics saw as too distant from the late artist himself.
Britney Spears has not been in the mainstream spotlight that much despite having consecutive shows in Las Vegas. The Weeknd has the most nominations (20) and got the Top Hot 100 Artist award. “For my husband, The Show Must Go On, his favourite song that I do every night, (was why) I said ‘OK, I’ll go and it’s going to work'”.
To honour music legend Prince, Billboard tapped two other music legends – Madonna and Stevie Wonder.
The biggest stars in pop arrived at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas which held in the early hours of this morning. Adele took the night’s biggest prize, Top Artist.
“But they’re giving me a very, very important. iconic award. for my children when I’m gone, these are the moments that will stay”.
Another highlight was a performance by Celine Dion, who was making her return to the stage since the death of her husband Rene Angelil in January.
Candian singer The Weeknd won eight gongs at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, a new record for any male recording artist.
Justin Bieber, who was named Top Male Artist, also took to the stage as he sang Company and Sorry from his best selling album objective.
The 28-year-old, who returned to the charts with her 2015 album, 25, after a three-year hiatus, also debuted the video for her latest single Send My Love (To Your New Lover) at the star-studded event.
The singer’s legal case sparked the #FreeKesha campaign on social media and earned support from artists such as Taylor Swift, Adele and Lady Gaga.
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After a public back-and-forth with her former producer Dr. Luke (who she’s now engaged with in a messy court battle) about her scheduled BBMAs performance, his label Kemosabe Records reversed course and approved her Bob Dylan tribute performance.
