A Recap on the 2019 BBMA’s
On May 1st, 2019, the annual Billboard Music Awards took place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show was hosted by Kelly Clarkson for the second year in a row. Many musical artists across all genres gathered together for the event to honor each other’s accomplishments in the music industry and perform chart-topping songs. The BBMA’s has aired annually since 1990, and each year, a variety of talents are displayed to provide viewers with a night of high energy and entertainment. If you did not get the chance to see the 2019 BBMA’s when it aired on NBC, we have covered the main highlights of the show, including all of the important awards and iconic performances.
Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie kick off the evening with their bright and colorful performance of their collaboration single ME! . The duo preached self-love and embracing individuality while wearing sparkling outfits and singing alongside 40 drummers on the stage. With such an energetic start to the show, the audience was even more excited for what was to come.
The first notable award was given to Juice WRLD as he was announced for Top New Artist. The singer/songwriter and rapper was up against Bazzi, Ella Mai, Dua Lipa, and Lil Baby in this category. He happily accepted the award, thanking his fans for all of the support and claiming how surprised he was for the success he gained within one year. Juice WRLD is best known for his song Lucid Dreams which was also nominated for Top Rap Song and Top Hot 100.
In contrast to the bright and colorful performance of ME!, singer Halsey took the stage to perform her hit song Without Me , displaying pain and heartbreak through her lyrics to reflect on a previous relationship ending. She had many audience members in tears, including Jungkook from BTS. Later, she performed her collaboration song Boy With Luv , with the K-Pop group. Halsey stole the show with her dancing, stunning vocals, and even an outfit change mid-performance. The seven members also put on a spectacular performance for their ARMY fanbase, dancing in perfect synchronization to the upbeat tempo of the music. The group would later go on to win Top Duo/Group and Top Social Artist for a third time. BTS later praised Halsey for her hard work in learning the choreography and both artists exchanged gratitude for the opportunity to work with each other.
Later into the night, Ella Mai dominated the R&B category. The singer won Top Female R&B Artist, Top R&B Song, and Top R&B artist. Mai’s win as Top R&B artist also marks her as the third woman amongst Beyoncé and Rihanna to win the award since its introduction to the show in 2011.
Adding onto the list of iconic performances, the Jonas Brothers sang Sucker , Jealous , and Cake by the Ocean together, once again showing how their strong brotherly bond translates into their performances. During the performance, all three brothers stopped to kiss their wives. All three men are now happily married as Joe Jonas and Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner ties the knot directly following the show.
More notable awards throughout the night include Imagine Dragons as Top Rock Artist, who used their acceptance speech to spread awareness about LGBTQ+ rights and the controversy surrounding conversion therapy for these individuals. Ariana Grande won Top Female Artist and the Billboard Chart Achievement Award, however due to scheduling conflicts with her Sweetener World Tour, she was unable to make the event. Her fans were not disappointed however, as her performance of 7 Rings in Vancouver, Canada was aired live during the show. Lastly, Maroon 5 took home the award for Top 100 Song for their collaboration with Cardinal B. Girls Like You. Cardi accepted the award on behalf of the absent band, claiming that she knew the song would be a hit, and therefore chose to record her part despite the physical difficulty of being 5 months pregnant at the time.
The most notable artist of the night had to be Canadian rapper Drake, who won 12 awards throughout the night. This puts him at 27 BBMA’s, setting a new record for the most BBMA awards over Taylor Swift’s 23 awards. Drake’s most notable wins were Top Billboard 200 album, in which he gave a “shout out” to Arya Stark from Game of Thrones and encouraged his fans to support their favorite artists. He also took home the most coveted award of the night, Top Artist, in which he used his acceptance speech to thank his mother for the role she played in his success.
Overall, the BBMA’s held another successful show this year with many iconic performances. Many talented artists were recognized throughout the night in a variety of categories, displaying the diversity of the music industry and acknowledging the hard work they all put into their music. We can’t wait to see what the BBMA’s has in store for next year!
