The “2018 Billboard Music Awards,” hosted by “The Voice” coach, Kelly Clarkson, was an emotional and celebratory night of nostalgic and one-of-a-kind musical performances and touching moments all to celebrate this year’s biggest and best in music.
This year’s show aired live on both coasts from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC.
Kendrick Lamar and Ed Sheeran were the night’s big winners, receiving six awards each. Lamar received Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Rap Album, Top Streaming Artist and Top Streaming Song (Audio). Accepting his awards all the way from Dublin, Ireland, Sheeran took home Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist and Top Radio Song.
Bruno Mars, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber follow close behind, winning five awards each. Mars took home awards for Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Tour, Top R&B Album and Top R&B Song. For “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber won for Top Hot 100 Song, Top Collaboration, Top Selling Song, Top Latin Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio) and Top Streaming Song (Video).
Other multi-category winners include: Imagine Dragons (Top Duo/Group, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album, Top Rock Song); Chris Stapleton (Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album); The Chainsmokers (Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Album, Top Dance/Electronic Song); Taylor Swift (Top Female Artist and Top Selling Album); Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Top Gospel Artist and Top Gospel Album); Ozuna (Top Latin Artist and Top Latin Album); and U2 (Top Touring Artist and Top Rock Tour).
The two fan-voted award winners were BTS for Top Social Artist and Camila Cabello for Billboard Chart Achievement Award.
The show had special moments, catering to audiences of all ages. Perhaps the most memorable was a medley from ICON Award recipient Janet Jackson, who electrified the stage with a performance of some of her biggest hits including “If” and “Nasty.”
Ariana Grande opened the show with a performance of her new hit single “No Tears Left to Cry.” Host Kelly Clarkson took the stage next, welcoming the audience in the arena and at home to what was sure to be an unforgettable night and was joined on stage by the famous Las Vegas entertainers.
Dua Lipa delivered a visually entertaining performance of her single “New Rules,” which featured a stage full of dancers and a giant flamingo. Jennifer Lopez and DJ Khaled fired up the stage with their new collaboration, “Dinero,” while new dad John Legend had the audience grooving to “A Good Night.”
Khalid pulled double duty, first performing with Normani for his song “Love Lies” and returning to the stage for an emotional duet of “Youth” alongside Shawn Mendes and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Show Choir from Parkland. Prior to being joined by Khalid, Mendes took the stage to sing his new pop hit “In My Blood.”
Ed Sheeran gave a special performance of “Galway Girl,” appropriately coming to viewers from Galway.
The Chainsmokers and Halsey delivered touching remarks in memory of the late DJ, Avicii, who passed away earlier this year.
Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato performed their world television debut of Aguilera’s empowering new song “Fall In Line.”
The evening featured a group performance including Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey with their catchy single “The Middle,” Macklemore featuring Kesha on his song “Good Old Days,” and Pharrell Williams and Camila Cabello on “Sangria Wine,” before Cabello performed solo on her fan-favorite hit “Havana.”
Host Kelly Clarkson took a break from her duties to show off her impressive pipes with a single from her new album, “Whole Lotta Woman.”
Global music stars BTS performed the world television premiere of their new single “Fake Love” from their recently released album “Love Yourself: Tear” and were nearly drowned out by the sounds of their fans screaming.
The show closed with a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, who joined together to perform legendary hit songs “Shoop,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Push It,” and “Whatta Man.”
See below for a full list of non-televised winners:
ARTIST AWARDS
ICON Award:
Janet Jackson
Top Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
**Ed Sheeran
Top New Artist:
21 Savage
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
**Khalid
Kodak Black
Billboard Chart Achievement Award:
**Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran
Top Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
**Ed Sheeran
Top Female Artist:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Halsey
Demi Lovato
Top Duo/Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
**Imagine Dragons
Migos
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
**Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
**Ed Sheeran
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Cardi B
Drake
**Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Song Sales Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
**Ed Sheeran
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Halsey
Imagine Dragons
Bruno Mars
Charlie Puth
**Ed Sheeran
Top Social Artist:
Justin Bieber
**BTS
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes
Top Touring Artist:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
**U2
Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Khalid
**Bruno Mars
Top R&B Male Artist:
Khalid
**Bruno Mars
Top R&B Female Artist:
Beyoncé
**SZA
Top R&B Tour:
**Bruno Mars
Top Rap Artist:
Drake
**Kendrick Lamar
Lil Uzi Vert
Migos
Post Malone
Top Rap Male Artist:
Drake
**Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
Top Rap Female Artist:
Bhad Bhabie
**Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Tour:
J. Cole
**JAY-Z
Kendrick Lamar
Top Country Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
**Chris Stapleton
Top Country Male Artist:
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
**Chris Stapleton
Top Country Female Artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
**Maren Morris
Top Country Duo/Group Artist:
**Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Tour:
Florida Georgia Line
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Top Rock Artist:
**Imagine Dragons
Linkin Park
Portugal. The Man
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
twenty one pilots
Top Rock Tour:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
**U2
Top Latin Artist:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
**Ozuna
Romeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
**The Chainsmokers
Calvin Harris
Kygo
Marshmello
ODESZA
Top Christian Artist:
Elevation Worship
Hillsong UNITED
Hillsong Worship
**MercyMe
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
Travis Greene
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
**Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Tamela Mann
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Drake “More Life”
**Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”
Post Malone “Stoney”
Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
Taylor Swift “reputation”
Top Selling Album:
Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”
P!nk “Beautiful Trauma”
Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
Chris Stapleton “From A Room: Volume 1”
**Taylor Swift “reputation”
Top Soundtrack:
“The Fate of the Furious: The Album”
“The Greatest Showman”
“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2”
** “Moana”
Top R&B Album:
Khalid “American Teen”
**Bruno Mars “24K Magic”
SZA “Ctrl”
The Weeknd “Starboy”
XXXTENTACION “17”
Top Rap Album:
Drake “More Life”
**Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”
Lil Uzi Vert “Luv Is Rage 2”
Migos “Culture”
Post Malone “Stoney”
Top Country Album:
Kane Brown “Kane Brown”
Luke Combs “This One’s For You”
Thomas Rhett “Life Changes”
**Chris Stapleton “From A Room: Volume 1”
Brett Young “Brett Young”
Top Rock Album:
**Imagine Dragons “Evolve”
Linkin Park “One More Light”
Panic! At The Disco “Death Of A Bachelor”
Portugal. The Man “Woodstock”
U2 “Songs of Experience”
Top Latin Album:
Nicky Jam “Fénix”
Christian Nodal “Me Dejé Llevar”
**Ozuna “Odisea”
Romeo Santos “Golden”
Shakira “El Dorado”
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
Avicii “AVĪCI (01)”
**The Chainsmokers “Memories…Do Not Open”
Calvin Harris “Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1”
Kygo “Stargazing”
ODESZA “A Moment Apart”
Top Christian Album:
Elevation Worship “There Is A Cloud”
Hillsong UNITED “Wonder”
Hillsong Worship “Let There Be Light”
**Alan Jackson “Precious Memories Collection”
MercyMe “Lifer”
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy “A Long Way From Sunday”
Travis Greene “Crossover: Live From Music City”
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise “You Deserve It”
**Tasha Cobbs Leonard “Heart. Passion. Pursuit.”
Marvin Sapp “Close”
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song:
**Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Ed Sheeran “Shape Of You”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
**Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
Lil Uzi Vert “XO TOUR Llif3”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Post Malone ft. Quavo “Congratulations”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
**Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
Lil Pump “Gucci Gang”
Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”
Top Selling Song:
**Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran “Perfect”
Top Radio Song:
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
Charlie Puth “Attention”
**Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”
Top Collaboration:
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana”
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
**Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
French Montana ft. Swae Lee “Unforgettable”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Top R&B Song:
Childish Gambino “Redbone”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller “Wild Thoughts”
Khalid “Young Dumb & Broke”
**Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B “Finesse”
Top Rap Song:
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne “I’m the One”
French Montana ft. Swae Lee “Unforgettable”
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
**Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Top Country Song:
Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina “What Ifs”
**Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Dustin Lynch “Small Town Boy”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant To Be”
Brett Young “In Case You Didn’t Know”
Top Rock Song:
**Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Linkin Park ft. Kiiara “Heavy”
Portugal. The Man “Feel It Still”
The Revivalists “Wish I Knew You”
Top Latin Song:
J Balvin & Willy William ft. Beyoncé “Mi Gente”
Becky G ft. Bad Bunny “Mayores”
**Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
Maluma “Felices Los 4”
Wisin ft. Ozuna “Escápate Conmigo”
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
**The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie “Rockabye”
Cheat Codes ft. Demi Lovato “No Promises”
Kygo & Selena Gomez “It Ain’t Me”
Zedd & Alessia Cara “Stay”
Top Christian Song:
Elevation Worship “O Come To The Altar”
**Hillsong Worship “What A Beautiful Name”
Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly “I’ll Find You”
MercyMe “Even If”
Zach Williams “Old Church Choir”
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy “Trust In You”
**J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise “You Deserve It”
Travis Greene “You Waited”
Tamela Mann “Change Me”
Charlie Wilson “I’m Blessed”
“Billboard Music Awards” nominees and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the chart period of April 8, 2017 through March 31, 2018. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of artists, songs and albums, and are the ultimate measure of success in music.
