BTS SCRIPTS HISTORY AT BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS
From setting new records to Drake and Olivia Rodrigo winning big, here’s what unfolded at the gala
The 2022 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) gala, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (USA), was a starstudded celebration of music. The South Korean group BTS scripted history by becoming the most awarded group in the history of BBMA (they have won 12 awards till date), breaking the 17-year-old record of the American girl group Destiny’s Child (11 gongs in all).
The big winners included Canadian rapper Drake, American singer-songwriters Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift, and American rapper Doja Cat. American singer Mary J Blige received the Icon Award.
Drake registered five wins, including Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Rap Artist and Top Rap Male Artist. He extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show with 34 wins.
Rodrigo, on the other hand, took home seven awards, while American rapper Ye aka Kanye West won six titles. Australian rapper The Kid Laroi became a first-time winner, taking home five wins for his song Stay with Canadian singer Justin Bieber. Doja Cat and Swift took home four awards. Bad Bunny received two wins, while R&B duo Silk Sonic, comprising musicians Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, won their first-ever award for top R&B song for Leave The Door Open.
The gala saw performances by musicians Florence Welch, Megan Thee Stallion, Becky G, Burna Boy, Maxwell, Silk Sonic, Ed Sheeran and Latto. American rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was the host for the do and he subtly joked about the Oscars slapgate incident, too.
Actor Megan Fox and American rapper Machine Gun Kelly packed PDA moments on the red carpet. In fact, Kelly sparked wedding and pregnancy rumours with his act. He performed Twin Flame and said, “I wrote this song for my wife” and halfway through the performance, he added, “This is for our unborn child.” Meanwhile, media personality Kylie Jenner was also in attendance with daughter Stormi. Jenner came to support her partner, rapper Travis
Scott for his first TV performance since the Astrow orld tragedy that left 10 people dead in November last year.