The Billboard Music Awards were handed out Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with Drake, Kanye West and Mary J. Blige among the big winners.
Teen sensation Olivia Rodrigo led the list of winners with seven awards. Kanye (who now goes by Ye) won six awards, and Drake picked up five wins adding to his career total of a record 34 BBMA wins.
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Mary J. Blige received the Billboard Icon Award for musical excellence. Sean “Diddy” Combs, who served as the night’s host, escorted the “No More Drama” singer to the stage and Janet Jackson presented her with the award. “Wow, I’m in a dream right now. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody,” Blige said.
“What an icon means to me is overcoming obstacles to accomplish the unthinkable and be wildly admired for having influence over a multitude of people, and that is what I’ve always represented,” she told the audience. “I’ve been on this journey for a long time. One that didn’t always look the way you see me now. One that is filled with a lot of heartache and pain, but God helped me to channel those experiences and emotions into my music, which is where I started in music.”
[Watch Blige’s Speech Below]
The Billboard Music Awards honor the year’s top performing artists on the Billboard Music Charts. Below is the list of winners.
ARTISTS
Top Artist: Drake
Top New Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Male Artist: Drake
Top Female Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Duo/Group: BTS
Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Streaming Songs Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Song Sales Artist: BTS
Top Radio Songs Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist (NEW): Olivia Rodrigo
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist: Ed Sheeran
Top Tour: The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top R&B Artist: Doja Cat
Top R&B Male Artist: The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist: Doja Cat
Top R&B Tour: Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)
Top Rap Artist: Drake
Top Rap Male Artist: Drake
Top Rap Female Artist: Megan Thee Stallion
Top Rap Tour: Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
Top Country Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Country Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group: Dan + Shay
Top Country Tour: Eric Church (Gather Again Tour)
Top Rock Artist: Glass Animals
Top Rock Tour: The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Male Artist: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Female Artist: Kali Uchis
Top Latin Duo/Group: Eslabon Armado
Top Latin Tour: Los Bukis (Una Historia Cantada Tour)
Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga
Top Christian Artist: Ye
Top Gospel Artist: Ye
ALBUMS
Top Billboard 200 Album: Olivia Rodrigo, “Sour”
Top Soundtrack: “Encanto”
Top R&B Album: Doja Cat “Planet Her”
Top Rap Album: Drake “Certified Lover Boy”
Top Country Album: Taylor Swift “Red (Taylor’s Version)”
Top Rock Album: Twenty One Pilots “Scaled And Icy”
Top Latin Album: Karol G “KG0516”
Top Dance/Electronic Album: Illenium “Fallen Embers”
Top Christian Album: Ye “Donda”
Top Gospel Album: Ye “Donda”
