Rap giant Drake dropped a surprise Game of Thrones shout-out into one of his speeches at today’s Billboard Music Awards.
Taking the stage to accept the Billboard Top 200 Album award, Drake thanked family, friends and those who helped work on his album Scorpion — then proved he’s a big ol’ GoT fan just like the rest of the world.
“And shout-out to Ayra Stark for putting in that work last week, ayyyy,” he finished.
It really was a night for pop divas from the past few decades — Paula Abdul closed the show with a frenetic medley of her late 80s / early 90s hits that came complete with one eyebrow-raising moment.
Dancing through the crowd, Paula flung off her hat in one smooth Michael Jackson-esque move — and whipped it straight into Julianne Hough’s throat:
What a way to go: Throat slashed by Paula Abdul’s fedora. Hough took the hat toss in good spirits, though:
Atta girl. She’ll be out of intensive care before she knows it!
Before that, Madonna proved she’s in no danger of losing her Queen of Pop title with an incredible, high-tech performance at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards that’s rumoured to have cost her $5 million.
The singer, 60, performed new single Medellin with Colombian singer Maluma, 25 — and a quartet of hologram Madonnas, each representing a different character she inhabits on her upcoming concept album of sorts, Madame X.
Maluma and Madonna perform onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
It was, in a word, insane:
Fellow pop icon Mariah Carey delivered a hit-filled medley of songs from throughout her career, appropriately enough before picking up the Icon Award.
Mariah Carey. Picture: Kevin Winter/GettySource:Getty Images
“Icon? I really don’t think of myself that way. I started making music out of a necessity to survive,” she said in her speech.
“I still feel like that lost interracial child who felt lost,” she continued.
Earlier, Taylor Swift opened the show with a hyper-colourful performance of her divisive new single ME!
The pop superstar was joined on stage by duet partner Brendon Urie for a high-energy performance of the hit:
But the star was almost overshadowed immediately after the performance by host Kelly Clarkson, who kicked things off with a rapid-fire, note-perfect medley of hits by some of the night’s performers.
The ultimate mash-up - @iamcardib approved! ✅ @kelly_clarkson
Watch the #BBMAs LIVE on @9Now! pic.twitter.com/KKIW6j9xtk
— 9Now (@9Now) May 2, 2019
The eternally underrated Ciara channelled peak-era Janet with an elastic performance of new single Thinkin’ Bout You — Taylor Swift in particular seemed to be enjoying it, dancing through the whole song from her spot in the audience.
The newly-reunited Jonas Brothers gave fans a taste of solo hits Jealous and Cake By The Ocean before performing their number one comeback smash Sucker:
Earlier, rapper Cardi B proved the biggest red carpet showstopper with a plunging gown showing off her rock hard six pack.
WINNERS’ LIST
TOP R&B ARTIST
H.E.R.
Khalid
Ella Mai — winner
The Weeknd
XXXTentacion
TOP ROCK ARTIST
Imagine Dragons — winner
lovelytheband
Panic! at the Disco
Queen
twenty one pilots
TOP BILLBOARD 200 ALBUM
Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy
Drake, Scorpion — winner
Post Malone, beerbongs & bentleys
Travis Scott, ASTROWORLD
XXXTentacion, ?
TOP NEW ARTIST
Bazzi
Juice WRLD — winner
Lil Baby
Dua Lipa
Ella Mai
TOP DUO/GROUP
BTS - winner
Dan + Shay
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5
Panic! At The Disco
TOP MALE ARTIST
Drake — winner
Post Malone
Travis Scott
Ed Sheeran
XXXTentacion
TOP RAP SONG
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin, “I Like It” — winner
Drake, “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 HOT 100 SONG
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin, “I Like It”
Juice WRLD, “Lucid Dreams”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B, “Girls Like You” — winner
Post Malone, “Better Now”
Travis Scott, “SICKO MODE”
TOP ARTIST
Cardi B
Drake — winner
Ariana Grande
Post Malone
Travis Scott