Drake showed his mother Sandi Graham lots of love on Wednesday night at the Billboard Music Awards, where the Toronto rap superstar was the night's big winner.
“I want to thank my mom for her relentless effort in my life,” Drake said after being named Top Artist. “All the times you drove me to piano when I didn’t want to take piano, all the times you drove me to basketball and hockey – that clearly didn’t work out. All the times you drove me to Degrassi.
“No matter how long it took me to figure out what I wanted to do, you were always there to give me a ride – and now we’re all on one hell of a ride.”
Drake went into the BBMAs with 17 nominations and left with 12. Added to his 15 previous wins since 2011, he is now the artist with the most BBMAs – surpassing Taylor Swift's 23 and his fellow Canadian Justin Bieber's 20. (He was one award away from matching his 2017 record for the most wins at one BBMAs.)
Only three of Drake's categories were announced on air. He first appeared on stage to accept the BBMA for Top Billboard 200 Album (for Scorpion). “I always had a dream of doing a double album and I finally did it,” he said, “so now I’ll never do it again.”
He then name-checked a Game of Thrones character. “Shout out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week,” he said.
Back at the mic to claim Top Male Artist, Drake appealed to the music community to be kind to each other. “We’ve obviously had an unfortunate series of losses within our business and I just want to encourage everybody to let other artists know how you feel about them,” he said. “Let them know that you love and respect them … while we’re all still here.
“Just show somebody some love. Tell somebody you love their music or love what they do.”
Canada was also represented by The Weeknd, who won Top R&B Male Artist, and Shania Twain, who lost Top Country Tour to Kenny Chesney.
Other winners included Cardi B, Florida Georgia Line, Dan + Shay, Ella Mai, and Imagine Dragons. “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B picked up Top Radio Song, Top Selling Song, Top Hot 100 Song and Top Collaboration.
Accepting the BBMA for Top Group, BTS member RM said they“still can’t believe that we’re here on this stage with so many great artists.”
Ethan Miller / Getty Images
Hosted by Kelly Clarkson, the BBMAs was a live show with a disappointing lack of live singing. All but a handful of performers lip-synced – most noticeably Taylor Swift, Madonna and Paula Abdul.
Those who sang live include country duo Dan + Shay with Tori Kelly; the Jonas Brothers; and Christian singer Lauren Daigle. Clarkson sang a medley of popular songs at the top of the show and returned to sing “Broken & Beautiful” from UglyDolls.
Mariah Carey showed everyone how’s it done by belting out bits of her hits before accepting the Billboard Icon Award. "Icon? I really don’t think of myself that way," she said. "I started making music out of a necessity to survive and to express myself and I just wanted to create something so I could feel worthy of existing."
The pop superstar referred to the “highs and lows” and “struggles” in her long career. “We all make mistakes,” she said. “There’s been a few memes.”
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Ariana Grande appeared during the broadcast in a performance of “7 Rings” that was taped April 27 at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.
On social media, Swift was accused of borrowing Beyoncé’s drumline to kick off the show with “ME!” and Ciara was slammed for copying just about everything about Janet Jackson for "Thinkin' Bout You.
Here are some of the main categories and the winners (updates to come):
Top Artist:Cardi BDrake - WINNERAriana GrandePost MaloneTravis Scott
Top New Artist:BazziJuice Wrld - WINNERLil BabyDua LipaElla Mai
Billboard Chart Achievement Award:Dan + ShayDrakeAriana Grande - WINNERLady Gaga & Bradley CooperDua Lipa
Top Male Artist:Drake - WINNERPost MaloneTravis ScottEd SheeranXXXTentacion
Top Female Artist:Cardi BAriana Grande - WINNERHalseyElla MaiTaylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:BTS - WINNERDan + ShayImagine DragonsMaroon 5Panic! At The Disco
Top Billboard 200 Artist:Drake - WINNERAriana GrandePost MaloneTravis ScottXXXTentacion
Top Hot 100 Artist:Cardi BDrake - WINNERAriana GrandeJuice WrldPost Malone
Top Streaming Songs Artist:Cardi BDrake - WINNERAriana GrandePost MaloneXXXTentacion
Top Song Sales Artist:Drake - WINNERAriana GrandeImagine DragonsLady GagaPost Malone
Top Radio Songs Artist:Cardi BDrake - WINNERAriana GrandeMaroon 5Post Malone
Top Social Artist:BTS - WINNEREXOGOT7Ariana GrandeLouis Tomlinson
Top Touring Artist:Beyoncé & JAY-ZBruno MarsEd Sheeran - WINNERTaylor SwiftJustin Timberlake
Top R&B Artist:H.E.R.KhalidElla Mai - WINNERThe WeekndXXXTentacion
Top R&B Male Artist:KhalidThe Weeknd - WINNERXXXTentacion
Top R&B Female Artist:H.E.R.Ella Mai - WINNERQueen Naija
Top R&B Tour:Beyoncé & JAY-Z - WINNERChildish GambinoBruno Mars
Top Rap Artist:Cardi B Drake - WINNERJuice WrldPost MaloneTravis Scott
Top Rap Male Artist:Drake - WINNERPost MaloneTravis Scott
Top Rap Female Artist:Cardi B - WINNERCity GirlsNicki Minaj
Top Rap Tour:Beyoncé & JAY-Z - WINNERDrakeTravis Scott
Top Country Artist:Jason AldeanKane BrownLuke Combs - WINNERDan + ShayFlorida Georgia Line
Top Country Male Artist:Jason AldeanKane BrownLuke Combs - WINNER
Top Country Female Artist:Maren MorrisKacey MusgravesCarrie Underwood - WINNER
Top Country Duo/Group:Dan + Shay - WINNERFlorida Georgia LineOld Dominion
Top Country Tour:Luke BryanKenny Chesney - WINNERShania Twain
Top Rock Artist:Imagine Dragons - WINNERLovelythebandPanic! At The DiscoQueenTwenty One Pilots
Top Rock Tour:Elton John - WINNERThe Rolling StonesU2
Top Latin Artist:Anuel AABad BunnyJ BalvinOzuna - WINNERRomeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:Calvin HarrisKygoMarshmelloOdeszaThe Chainsmokers - WINNER
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album:Cardi B Invasion of PrivacyDrake Scorpion - WINNERPost Malone beerbongs & bentleysTravis Scott ASTROWORLDXXXTentacion ?
Top Soundtrack:13 Reasons Why: Season 2A Star is Born by Lady Gaga & Bradley CooperBohemian Rhapsody by QueenSpider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseThe Greatest Showman - WINNER
Top R&B Album:Ella Mai Ella MaiH.E.R. H.E.R.Khalid American TeenThe Weeknd My Dear MelancholyXXXTentacion 17 - WINNER
Top Rap Album:Cardi B Invasion of PrivacyDrake Scorpion - WINNERPost Malone beerbongs & bentleysTravis Scott ASTROWORLDXXXTentacion ?
Top Country Album:Jason Aldean Rearview TownKane Brown Kane BrownLuke Combs This One’s For You - WINNERDan + Shay Dan + ShayCarrie Underwood Cry Pretty
Top Rock Album:Dave Matthews Band Come TomorrowImagine Dragons OriginsMumford & Sons DeltaPanic! At This Disco Pray For The Wicked - WINNERTwenty One Pilots Trench
Top Latin Album:Anuel AA Real Hasta la MuerteBad Bunny X 100PREJ Balvin VibrasMaluma F.A.M.E.Ozuna Aura - WINNER
Top Dance/Electronic Album:Clean Bandit What Is Love?David Guetta 7Kygo Kids in LoveMajor Lazer Major Lazer EssentialsThe Chainsmokers Sick Boy - WINNER
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song:Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”Juice Wrld “Lucid Dreams”Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” - WINNERPost Malone “Better Now”Travis Scott “SICKO MODE”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”Juice Wrld “Lucid Dreams”Post Malone “Better Now”Travis Scott “SICKO MODE” - WINNERXXXTentacion “SAD!”
Top Streaming Song (Video):Drake “In My Feelings” - WINNERJuice Wrld “Lucid Dreams”Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You”Travis Scott “SICKO MODE”XXXTentacion “SAD!”
Top Selling Song:Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”Drake “In My Feelings”Halsey “Without Me”Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper “Shallow”Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” - WINNER
Top Radio Song:Khalid & Normani “Love Lies”Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” - WINNERPost Malone “Better Now”Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be”Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey “The Middle”
Top Collaboration:Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”Khalid & Normani “Love Lies”Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B “Girls Like You” - WINNERMarshmello & Bastille “Happier”Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign “Psycho”
Top R&B Song:DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper & Quavo “No Brainer”Ella Mai “Boo’d Up” - WINNERElla Mai “Trip”Khalid “Better”Lil Dicky ft. Chris Brown “Freaky Friday”
Top Rap Song:Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It” - WINNERDrake “In My Feelings”Juice Wrld “Lucid Dreams”Post Malone “Better Now”Travis Scott “SICKO MODE”
Top Country Song:Kane Brown “Heaven”Luke Combs “She Got the Best of Me”Dan + Shay “Speechless”Dan + Shay “Tequila”Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be” - WINNER
Top Rock Song:Foster The People “Sit Next to Me”Imagine Dragons “Natural”Imagine Dragons “Whatever It Takes”Lovelytheband “broken”Panic! At The Disco “High Hopes” - WINNER
Top Latin Song:Bad Bunny ft. Drake “Mia”Daddy Yankee “Dura”DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B “Taki Taki”Nicky Jam & J Balvin “X”Casper Magico, Nio Garcia, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny & Ozuna “Te Bote” - WINNER
Top Dance/Electronic Song:DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B “Taki Taki”Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa “One Kiss”Marshmello & Bastille “Happier”Tiësto & Dzeko ft. Preme & Post Malone “Jackie Chan”Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey “The Middle” - WINNER