That’s how it’s done, people.Ĭeline Dion: The chanteuse came to collect her Icon Award, proving her status with an impressive performance followed by a tear-filled speech on the arm of her son. Rihanna: Performing her song “Love on the Brain” on a surprisingly bare bones set, Rihanna delivered a memorable performance without any bells or whistles (or confetti or fire). They turned the track into a slinky Adele-esque number and the audience was appropriately respectful of the embattled artist. Ke$ha: After several rounds of will-she-won’t-she played out in headlines around the world, Ke$ha appeared on stage (dressed a little like Colonel Sanders in a white suit and black string tie) to perform Bob Dylan’s “It Aint Me, Babe” with Ben Folds. She owned the stage with her biggest hits, including “Womanizer,” a cover of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” followed by the deep cut “Breathe on Me,” and earned the biggest roars with “Slave 4 U” and “Toxic.” Of course, Spears was not just on hand to wow the masses with her medley, but also to receive the Billboard Millennium Award, which Billboard says is intended to “honor artists with exceptional achievements and influence in the music industry,” but is really just to give us all an excuse to bask in the glory of Britney. She hit the stage clad in a bejeweled bikini that would make Teela and Madonna proud, paired with knee high Wonder Woman boots and wrist bands.

She opened the show, starting with “Work Bitch” and worked her way through her songbook. Here are the best and worst moments of the 2016 Billboard Music Awards:īritney Spears: For those who haven’t made it to Vegas to see Britney Spears’ ongoing residency, the pop queen gave the audience plenty of reasons to book a ticket to Sin City.

Wow hits 2016 voice songbook