The Weekend's Billboard Music Awards 2016 brought out the most talented and iconic artists enthralling the crowd in an evening of unforgettable performances at the T-Arena.
A crowd favorite for the evening was Joe Jonas and his DNCE band as they performed their hit Hot 100 hit "Cake By the Ocean". Cole Whittle rocked the bass while Jonas worked joined the crowd engaging them through the performance.
Doing away with elaborate backdrops and lighting, Fifth Harmony emerged onstage sexily clad in sequined leotards, joined by back up dancers and Ty Dolla $ign, doing an amazing rendition of "Work From Home" that worked up the crowd and got them dancing and singing with the group throughout the number.
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani practically serenaded one another as they sang "Go Ahead and Break My Heart", a song admittedly written by Blake himself for girlfriend Gwen.
Justin Bieber sang "Company" and "Sorry", with a more toned down performance and sans the dreadlocks, he nonetheless still drove his fans crazy and took the Top Male Artist Award.
Britney Spears stripped down into a red scanty outfit. Supported by leather clad back-up dancers, she powered into a mega-mix of "Work Bitch", "Womanizer", "I love Rock 'n Roll", "Breath On Me", "I'm a Slave 4 U" and topping it off with "Toxic". Riding a giant guitar like a bull ride during "I Love Rock 'n Roll", audiences were treated with dazzling dance moves by a fit and quick moving Britney reminiscent of old. She was given Billboard's prestigious "Millennium Award".
Pink's number had her swinging through the air in a harness in true Pink signature fashion while performing her latest single "Just Like Fire" from the "Alice Through the Looking Glass" soundtrack. Landing onto the shoulders of her back up dancers, she ends up on the hands of a huge flaming clock.
Adele could not make it to the awards due to an ongoing concert tour. Audiences were nonetheless entertained with the premiere of her video of new single "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" which still proved a highlight to the event showing her enduring star status.
Rihanna did a passionately fiery performance of Anti's "Love on the Brain" showing off an amazing vocal performance with a grittier, raspier voice, before picking up her fan-voted Chart Achievement Award.
Shawn Mendes gave a soulful, minimalistic rendition of "Stitches" while Ariana Grande got the crowd swaying with a synth vocoder version of "Dangerous Woman" then picking up the pace with the dance anthem "Into You".
One wonderful surprise was a throw-back number by none other than 80s all girl pop band, The Go-Gos performing "We Got the Beat".
After a suspense-filled week of waiting whether she'd be allowed to perform at the Billboard awards by record label Kemosabe and Dr. Luke. Kesha finally got approval and with Ben Folds on piano, gave her longed for rendition of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" impressing everyone with her singing ability and earning one of the longest standing ovations for one of the evening's best performances.
Celine Dion probably gave the most endearing and inspirational performance for the evening. She gave tribute to husband Rene Angelil, whom she'd lost just 4 months prior, with a powerful rendition of Queen's "The Show Must Go On" supported by a full orchestra and Lindsey Stirling. She, in turn, was surprised when her son, Rene-Charles, was called onstage to present her with her Icon Award after which she gave an emotional, teary eyed thank you that left quite a number of the audience teary eyed as well.
Questlove gave a speech in tribute to Prince before Madonna's performance of "Nothing Compares 2 U" dedicated to the recently lost music icon. Audiences were wonderfully surprised when she was joined by music legend Stevie Wonder to sing "Purple Rain". The pair had the whole arena singing along and waving their arms up in no time, bathing the arena with a glow from their purple lighted wristbands.
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