The 2015 Billboard Music Awards, hosted by hip-hop artist and actor Ludacris, and TV host and supermodel Chrissy Teigen, was an amazing night of show-stopping musical performances, never-before-seen superstar duos, and explosive moments!
Teigen’s quick wit and ability to play to the crowd, and Ludacris’ comedic timing and hosting experience made this unexpected pair rival some of America’s favorite hosting duos. The show aired live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on ABC.
Taylor Swift was the night’s big winner, taking home 8 awards including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Digital Songs Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (“1989″), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“Shake It Off”) and the fan voted Billboard Chart Achievement Award sponsored by Samsung.
Swift also opened the show with the world debut of her highly anticipated music video for “Bad Blood,” the next single off her album “1989.” The video, directed by Joseph Kahn and produced by Taylor Swift, included cameos from some of Swift’s best friends including Jessica Alba, Lily Aldridge, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lena Dunham, Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding, Gigi Hadid, Mariska Hargitay, Martha Hunt, Karlie Kloss, Kendrick Lamar, Ellen Pompeo, Serayah, Hailee Steinfeld, Hayley Williams, and Zendaya.
Swift was on hand to then introduce legendary rock band, Van Halen, who performed their iconic hit “Panama,” marking the band’s first-ever performance on an awards show with Eddie, Alex, Wolfgang Van Halen and David Lee Roth. Van Halen started the night’s performances off with a bang, getting the crowd on their feet and rocking out!
Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea and Pharrell Williams all followed Swift with 3 awards each. Smith took home Top Male Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, and Top New Artist, which he accepted via a homemade video from his hospital bed, where he is recovering from vocal cord surgery. Azalea received Top Streaming Artist, Top Rap Artist and Top Rap Song (“Fancy,” featuring Charli XCX); and Williams was awarded Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album (“G I R L”) and Top R&B Song (“Happy”).
Performance duo Meghan Trainor and John Legend earned two trophies each. Legend received two awards for his love ballad “All of Me” (Top Radio Song, Top Streaming Song [Audio]), while Trainor received two for her feel-good hit “All About That Bass” (Top Hot 100 Song, Top Digital Song). Jason Aldean, Hozier, Enrique Iglesias and One Direction all took home two trophies as well.
Returning to the Billboard Music Awards performance stage after 17 years, Mariah Carey brought the audience to their feet with a medley of her classic debut single — and first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit — “Vision of Love” and new single “Infinity.” And Carey wasn’t the only singer bringing a sense of nostalgia to the stage.
Simple Minds, in honor of the 30th anniversary of “The Breakfast Club” performed their No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” which has become synonymous with the film itself and topped the chart exactly 30 years ago this week. John Hughes darling and “The Breakfast Club” star Molly Ringwald was on-hand to welcome the band to the stage. Another ’80s throwback came in the form of an explosive, neon-hued performance from music superstars Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea who brought their new single “Pretty Girls” to the stage for the first time ever.
Jussie Smollet, Bryshere “Yazz” Gray, and Estelle delivered a powerful rendition of stand-out song “Conquerer” and viewer favorite “You’re So Beautiful” from their breakout hit show “Empire.” The night was not short on memorable collaborations with duets from Nicki Minaj featuring David Guetta, Little Big Town with Faith Hill, Fall Out Boy with Wiz Khalifa, and Pitbull featuring Chris Brown. Solo artists also dominated the stage, with extraordinary performances by Kelly Clarkson, Hozier, Nick Jonas, Tori Kelly, Ed Sheeran, and Kanye West, who closed out the night with a commanding rendition of his hit “All Day.”
While the majority of the broadcast was focused on high-energy, one-of-a-kind performances, there were several touching tributes to some of the great artists who’ve passed away in recent months, including B.B. King, who received a heartfelt commemoration from host Ludacris as the camera panned to one of King’s iconic Lucille guitars, which was on display on stage. Vegas’ hometown band, Imagine Dragons, delivered a special rendition of “Stand By Me” in honor of the late Ben E. King, whose family was in the audience for the moving moment. During Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Puth and Lindsey Stirling’s powerful performance of the “Furious 7” anthem “See You Again,” a poignant clip of the film’s Paul Walker was shown to remember the actor and Ludacris’ longtime friend and colleague.
The musical acts weren’t the only stars taking over the stage at this year’s show. Presenters throughout the broadcast included 50 Cent, Lily Aldridge, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Charli XCX, Laverne Cox, Hannah Davis, Celine Dion, Brett Eldredge, the cast of “Entourage”, Fifth Harmony, Florida Georgia Line, Taraji P. Henson, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Kira Kazantsev, Danica McKellar, Idina Menzel, NE-YO, Britt Nilsson, One Direction, Rita Ora, Pentatonix, Ellen Pompeo, Prince Royce, Tracee Ellis Ross, Hailee Steinfeld, and Zendaya.
