The Weeknd was the king of the 2021 Billboard Music Awardb on Sunday night, taking home a total of 10 honours.
The singer picked up seven accolades before the live portion of the show even began, claiming prizes such as Top Male Artist, Top R&B Artist, and Top R&B Album for After Hours, and he added a further three - including Top Artist - to his haul during the main ceremony.
Late rapper Pop Smoke, who was killed in February 2020, was another big winner with five titles in the lead up to the event, earning Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, and Top Rap Album for his posthumously-released debut, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.
It was also a good night for Morgan Wallen, who emerged victorious in the categories of Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Album for Dangerous: The Double Album, despite being banned from attending or performing at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles following his N-word controversy, which emerged in early February.
Meanwhile, Drake was joined by his three-year-old son Adonis as he collected the prestigious Artist of the Decade accolade, which he dedicated to his "beautiful family" as he picked up his boy - who promptly burst into tears.
As part of his speech, he said: "I'm really self-conscious about my music. I rarely celebrate anything, and just for anyone watching this that's wondering how this happened, that's really the answer. It's being so unsure how you're getting it done, that you just keep going in the hopes of figuring out the formula. Feeling so lucky and blessed that the fear of losing it keeps you up at night."
"I didn't write a grandiose speech about how to make it work or what it took, 'cause to be honest, I don't really understand it myself," Drake continued. "I just know that I've spent an incalculable amount of hours trying to analyse all the things I did wrong, but tonight, for once, I'm sure as hell we did something right."
Taylor Swift was named Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist, while BTS claimed the Top Duo/Group and Top Social Artist accolades.
There were also special salutes for Change Maker recipient Trae Tha Truth, and Icon Award winner Pink, who treated viewers to a pre-recorded aerial performance alongside her nine-year-old daughter Willow, with the duo showing off powerful gymnastics skills as their hit song Cover Me In Sunshine played in the background.
Nick Jonas hosted the event with a little help from his actress wife, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, with the show featuring additional sets by Alicia Keys, The Weeknd, BTS, and DJ Khaled with H.E.R. and Migos.
The full list of winners at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards is:
Top Artist:
The Weeknd
Top New Artist:
Pop Smoke
Top Male Artist:
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist:
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
BTS
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist:
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Drake
Top Song Sales Artist:
BTS
Top Radio Songs Artist:
The Weeknd
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted):
BTS
Top R&B Artist:
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist:
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist:
Doja Cat
Top Rap Artist:
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Male Artist:
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Female Artist:
Megan Thee Stallion
Top Country Artist:
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Male Artist:
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist:
Gabby Barrett
Top Country Duo/Group:
Florida Georgia Line
Top Rock Artist:
Machine Gun Kelly
Top Latin Artist:
Bad Bunny
Top Latin Male Artist:
Bad Bunny
Top Latin Female Artist:
Karol G
Top Latin Duo/Group:
Eslabon Armado
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
Lady Gaga
Top Christian Artist:
Elevation Worship
Top Gospel Artist:
Kanye West
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
Top R&B Album:
The Weeknd, After Hours
Top Rap Album:
Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
Top Country Album:
Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
Top Rock Album:
Machine Gun Kelly, Tickets to My Downfall
Top Latin Album:
Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
Lady Gaga, Chromatica
Top Christian Album:
Carrie Underwood, My Gift
Top Gospel Album:
Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1
Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar:
The Weeknd, Blinding Lights
Top Streaming Song:
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, ROCKSTAR
Top Selling Song:
BTS, Dynamite
Top Radio Song:
The Weeknd, Blinding Lights
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted):
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, I Hope
Top R&B Song:
The Weeknd, Blinding Lights
Top Rap Song:
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, ROCKSTAR
Top Country Song:
Gabby Barrett, I Hope
Top Rock Song:
AJR, Bang!
Top Latin Song:
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, Dakiti
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
SAINt JHN, Roses (Imanbek Remix)
Top Christian Song:
Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake, Graves Into Gardens
Top Gospel Song:
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott, Wash Us In The Blood
