Drake cleans house at awards
Rapper sets a Billboard record by capturing 13 trophies
Drake surpassed Adele’s record at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, picking up 13 awards.
Adele set a record at the show in 2012 with 12 wins. The rapper, who walked into the show Sunday with 22 nominations, won top artist, top male artist and top Billboard 200 album (“Views”), among others, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I got my whole family up here,” said Drake, who stood onstage with nearly two dozen people, including his father, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.
Drake was presented the top artist award by Prince Jackson, the late Michael Jackson’s eldest son. Drake beat out Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Adele, Ariana Grande, the Weeknd, twenty one pilots, Shawn Mendes and the Chainsmokers for the top prize. Of those nominees, only Drake and the Chainsmokers attended the Billboard Awards.
Other big names showed up, however.
Cher, who received the Icon award, sang her dance anthem “Believe” in a glittery number that included pasties and blond hair with pink tips. She later changed wigs — this time in a huge, curly black ’do — and wore a black sheer bodysuit and leather jacket for “If I Could Turn Back Time.” Her performance earned the most audience participation of the night. Winners include: • Top artist: Drake • Top Hot 100 song: The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey, “Closer.”
• Top Billboard 200 album: Drake, “Views.” • Top female artist: Beyoncé. • Top male artist: Drake.
• Top duo/group: twenty one pilots.
• Top collaboration: The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey, “Closer.” • Top R&B artist: Beyonce. • Top rap artist: Drake. • Top country artist: Blake Shelton.
• Top rock artist: twenty one pilots.
• Top Latin artist: Juan Gabriel.
• Top dance/electronic artist: The Chainsmokers.
• Top Christian artist: Lauren Daigle.
• Top gospel artist: Kirk Franklin • Top social artist: BTS. • Top touring artist: Beyoncé • Chart achievement award: twenty one pilots.