Stars honour school shooting victims
The 2018 Billboard Music Awards paid tribute to students and teachers affected by recent deadly school shootings in Texas and Florida, on a night that also featured show-stopping performances by Janet Jackson and K-pop group BTS.
An emotional Kelly Clarkson, who hosted the awards, opened the show in honour of the10 people who died Friday at Santa Fe High School in Texas.
“Once again we’re grieving for more kids that have died … I’m so sick of moments of silence … it’s not working,” she said Sunday, almost in tears. “Mommies and daddies should be able to send their kids to school.” Shawn Mendes and Khalid were joined onstage by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas show choir for the song “Youth,” three months after 17 people were killed at the school in Parkland, Fla.
The show wasn’t all sombre, though. Jackson gave an energetic performance of her past hits, during a week that included her 52nd birthday and the 25th anniversary of her groundbreaking album janet. Bruno Mars made a surprise appearance to introduce Jackson, who earned the Icon Award. She used her speech to pay tribute to powerful women.
Ed Sheeran, who didn’t attend the show but performed from Dublin, won the night’s biggest honour — Top Artist — besting Mars, Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift. Swift won Top Female Artist and Top Selling Album for reputation.
Salt-N-Pepa closed the show with high energy, performing the hits “Push It” and “Whatta Man” alongside R&B group En Vogue and Clarkson.