Billboards see return of Cher as Drake, Celine win the night
Live from Las Vegas, the Billboard Music Awards honored artists’ chart-topping successes Sunday night, featuring artists including Drake, Bruno Mars, Lorde, Céline Dion, The Chainsmokers, John Legend and Florida Georgia Line and Nicki Minaj, whose performance opened the evening ’s ceremonies.
The night’s big moments were more subdued than years past.
CHER MAKES US BELIEVE
Few 71-year-olds in the music industry could have pulled off the performance that Cher did. While the stage’s robotic vocal effects and the gang of background vocals did the heavy lifting during her performance of Believe, she was a natural, strutting across the stage looking fantastic in a basically-naked crystal dress.
For her second song, Cher took the stage in a sheer bodysuit and an oversize curly wig, letting her voice shine through for If I Could Turn Back Time.
Accepting the Billboard Icon Award from Gwen Stefani, she gave a short but poignant speech remembering her 53 years in the music industry. “I (turned) 71 yesterday,” she said. “And I can do a five-minute plank, just saying.”
NIGHT BELONGS TO DRAKE
Drake has made a habit of skipping awards shows in recent years — even the 2016 Grammys, for which he was a top-nominated artist. But the rapper showed up for the BBMAs in a major way, performing his new song Gyal
chester in the middle of the Bellagio’s iconic fountains.
Bookending his fountain performance were the three awards Drizzy took home during the televised ceremony after winning 10 early awards Sunday, earning him the distinction of the BBMAs’ most-awarded artist in a single year. In addition to taking home the top artist prize, he delivered a series of speeches shouting out everyone from hosts Ludacris and Vanessa Hudgens to his frequent collaborator Minaj, praising their renewed friendship.
MILEY CYRUS BRINGS HER ‘MALIBU’ TO TV
Released last week, Cyrus’ new
Malibu single has been heralded as the start of a new era for the singer, leaving behind the hiphop influences of her 2013 album
Bangerz and the hippie-provocateur image of her Dead Petz phase. Cyrus gave her new track its TV debut in a performance that likely made her country music dad Billy Ray Cyrus proud.
Tearing up at the end of her soaring vocal take, Cyrus paired her new single’s country twang with boots, cutoffs and a ranchready hat, quite a change from her most infamous awards show outfit, the naked-latex outfit from her VMAs performance.
CÉLINE DION CELEBRATES TITANIC TURNING 20
In honor of Titanic’s 20th anniversary, Dion delivered a highdrama performance of the movie’s theme My Heart Will Go
On. Standing under an elaborate crystal chandelier, Dion’s characteristically huge vocals showed up most of the other performers, leaving all her younger musical counterparts at the BBMAs no excuse for not rising to her level.
CAMILA CABELLO MAKES HER SOLO DEBUT
Formerly a member of Fifth Harmony, Cabello departed the group last year to pursue solo stardom. She brought her debut solo single
Crying in the Club to the BBMAs with a dance-heavy performance surrounded by pyrotechnics, pulling off her vocals without a hitch. While her performance wasn’t the evening ’s most memorable, at least it didn’t do her any harm.
JOHN LEGEND AND FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE ARE A WINNING COMBO
Another of the night’s highlights came courtesy of Legend and Florida Georgia Line, who teamed up for the first time. Legend performed his track Surefire before the country rockers transitioned into a soulful rendition of their hit H.O.L.Y., and thanks to both songs’ acoustic treatments, the mashup worked.