Shawn Mendes wins big at Much Music Video Awards
TORONTO: Shawn Mendes dominated the Much Much Video Awards on Sunday night in Toronto, taking home four trophies, including for best artist and pop artist or group.
The Canadian pop sensation also nabbed the fan fave artist and fan fave video awards, voted on by pop music fans.
Mendes took to the stage three times, first to open the iHeartRadio MMVAs with a performance of “Lost in Japan” while tethered to his acoustic guitar, then to jokingly emerge from under a mask of Marshmello as himself, before returning to perform “In My Blood” from his self-titled third studio album to close the show.
The other big winner at the awards show was Drake, a fellow Toronto resident, who received two honours for best hip-hop artist or group and best director for his God’s Plan video, an award he shared with Karena Evans. And Selena Gomez nabbed the fan fave single trophy for “Wolves,” which features Marshmello, who also won for best EDM/Dance artist or group of the year.
Drake came into the competition with seven total nominations, making him the second-mostnominated Canadian artist, just behind Mendes.
Other artists who took to the stage included Alessia Cara singing “Growing Pains,” Meghan Trainor performing “No Excuses” and “Let You Be Right,” and Halsey performing “Bad at Love.”
Still more appearing on the twin MMVA stages included Australia’s 5SOS, ChineseCanadian rapping sensation Kris Wu performing “Like That,” Brent Kissel and Bebe Rexha, Bülow, The Beaches, and 98 Degrees, the recently reunited boy band fronted by Nick Lachey and who were introduced to the Canadian audience by This Is Us star Chrissy Metz.
Other award winners included Imagine Dragons, who picked up the trophy for best rock/ alternative artist or group; Ed Sheeran, who nabbed the best single prize for “Perfect”; and Logic, who earned best video honours for “1-800-273-8255,” which features Alessia Cara and Khalid.
Halsey took home the iHeartRadio MMVA artist for change trophy. “I try hard to use my voice whenever I can,” she said on the red carpet.
The song of the summer honour went to Loud Luxury for “Body,” which features Brando, and the best collaboration award went to Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line for “Meant to Be.”
Electropop duo Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine were tapped as best new Canadian artist or group.