Drake Breaks Adele’s Record, Celine Dion Stuns, Miley Cyrus Returns at 2017 Billboard Music Awards

Char Little

The 2017 Billboard Music Awards have officially come and gone, and it’s safe to say it was a night to remember.

The show, held in Las Vegas and hosted by veteran Ludacris and newcomer Vanessa Hudgens, opened up with Nicki Minaj for her performance of the “No Frauds” diss track. Lil Wayne joined her for his verse before Jason Derulo hit the stage for their “Swalla” collaboration.

Funny guys Kevin Hart and Ed Helms presented the first award after Hudgens had confirmed a few before the show began: Drake had already won 10, Beyoncé five, and Twenty One Pilots four. At this point, Drake needed three more to break Adele’s record of 12 awards won in a single night.

Helms and Hart gave the Top Collaboration Award to The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey for their hit “Closer.” The duo, who was up for 22 awards, performed later as well. 

One of the first highlights of the night was Camilla Cabella’s debut as a solo artist. The former Fifth Harmony songstress’ first performance alone went from innocent to very mature in a matter of moments as she transitioned out of a long gray dress into a sequined mini-dress piece. It made for a major breakout for her as she belted out her single “Crying in the Club.”

Drake took home the second award for the night—the coveted Top Male Artist award, winning against Justin Bieber, Future, Shawn Mendes, and The Weeknd. He used that chance to not only shout out to other Canadian artists who were up for the award, but his father, whom he mentioned was wearing a purple suit from head to toe.

Ed Sheeran was clearly a crowd favorite as another major performer of the night. He strummed his guitar as the crowd sang “Castle on the Hill” along with him.

Heading to the country category, Florida Georgia Line’s ” H.O.L.Y.” won Top Country Song. 

Just seconds later, Miley Cyrus made her return to the Billboard Awards with her newest single “Malibu.” This was almost like a quick period of transition for her, as she has shown how much she’s matured and grown since her unforgettable performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.

The Top Billboard 200 Album is another coveted award, this year going to Drake’s “Views,” which beat out Beyonce’s “Lemonade,” Twenty One Pilots, and The Weeknd’s “Starboy.” This tied Drake with Adele’s record for 12 wins in a single year. For Hot 100 song of the year, Chainsmokers ft. Halsey won for “Closer.” 

Lorde might be a famous singer but she channeled her inner karaoke star when she performed her newest song “Greenlight.” Sam Hunt slowed things down for his smooth performance of “Body Like a Back Road.”

Something that fans couldn’t stop talking about was Celine Dion’s performance for the 20th anniversary of “Titanic.” It was one of the most anticipated parts of the evening and she more than delivered and fulfilled the expectations of viewers. She sang “My Heart Will Go On” in a performance that began with her inside of a beautiful chandelier. The standing ovation she received after her final note was well-deserved. She brought tears to Hudgens’ eyes and pretty much left Ludacris speechless. This was without a doubt the best performance for the show.

Imagine Dragons played before Blake Shelton won the award for Top Country Artist. Drake took his performance to a fountain right outside of the Bellagio hotel. Halsey also performed solo after winning awards for her work in “Closer” with Chainsmokers. 

John Legend’s R&B was a great combination with Florida Georgia Line for their collaboration. He sang his latest single “Surefire,” before the country group did “H.O.L.Y.” as Legend played the piano for them and even sang a few phrases. 

Gwen Stefani presented the Billboard Icon Award to none other than Cher, who sang “Believe” and “Turn Back Time.” It’s safe to say Cher bridged the gap between the younger and older generations with this performance as many celebrities couldn’t help but sing along.

Bruno Mars closed out the night with the final performance. And while he was a highly anticipated act, it was a little disappointing to see he was actually in Amsterdam and he sang at the Billboard Music Awards stage via satellite. Still, his performance made up for it as he belted out what looks like his newest single, “Versace.”

The final big moment of the night included Drake winning Best Artist, causing him to beat Adele’s record. Still, in true Drake form, he told Adele there’s always a chance to beat his score in the nicest way possible.

The Billboard Music Awards took place Sunday, May 21, and aired on ABC .