The Weeknd makes a clean sweep

The Weeknd

The Weeknd took home 10 awards, including top artiste at the Billboard Music Awards 2021. Pop Smoke won five, including top new artiste, and BTS and Bad Bunny, each earned four. The ceremony also honoured Pink as the Icon, Drake as the Artiste of the Decade and Trae Tha Truth bagged the Changemaker award. The Billboard Music Awards' celebrated yet another iteration of its beloved show on Sunday, with American singer-songwriter The Weeknd dominating the ceremony with 10 awards, including the climactic top artist trophy.

Billboard Music Awards ceremony was a couple-affair as Priyanka Chopra Jonas presented the awards along with her husband and singer Nick Jonas to help him with his injury and to give him support. Nick presented the awards with his wife PC who made an appearance as a presenter for the first time at the ceremony.

The Weeknd, while accepting one of the several awards on camera, promised a change of stylistic pace to come in his future album and performance cycles. He said, "The after hours are done and the dawn is coming." At another point, he made a joke after beginning with a slight show-of-religiosity fake-out, "I'd like to thank God... that I don't have to wear that red suit anymore."

Last year, Post Malone took home the most awards with nine out of his 16 nominations. This year, Pink was announced as the Billboard Icon award, Trae tha Truth as the Change Maker winner and Drake continued his historic winning streak, as he accepted the Artist of the Decade Award. While receiving the award he was joined on stage by his son Adonis, his mother and father, and his closest friends to celebrate. Currently, the Canadian rapper holds the title for most Billboard Music Awards wins with 27, and was nominated for an impressive seven more on Sunday night. The evening featured a star-studded lineup of presenters including Cynthia Erivo, Chelsea Handler, Dixie D'Amelio, Gabrielle Union, Lena Waithe, Leslie Odom Jr. and more.

Also read: The Weeknd dominates 2021Billboard Music Awards, here's the list of winners

With inputs from ANI