Billboard Music Awards 2022
Drake was voted top artist, male artist, rap artist, rap male artist, and rap album at the Billboard Music Awards for “Certified Lover Boy.”
With 34 wins, the rapper extended his record as the most decorated champion in the show’s history.
Mary J. Blige was given the Icon Award for her musical achievements. Janet Jackson presented the award to the singer, who is recognized as the queen of hip-hop soul, and Sean “Diddy” Combs, who emceed the ceremony, which was televised live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday.
“I’ve been on this journey for a long time, one that didn’t always look the way you see me now,” she told the crowd. “One that is filled with a lot of heartache and pain, but God helped me to channel those experiences and emotions in my music.”
Morgan Wallen, who was caught on camera in 2021 using a racial slur, won the top country artist award.
“I want to say, ‘Thank God.’ And thank my fans. I got the best damn fans,” said Wallen, who thanked Billboard for inviting him. He did not mention last year’s incident, which once found the disgraced singer rebuked by the music industry.
Olivia Rodrigo took home seven awards, including best new artist, and Kanye West, known as Ye, won six.
Ye made his mark in the faith-based categories: The rapper won top Christian artist for the first time, but claimed top gospel artist and gospel song for the third year in a row. He also received top gospel album for the second time.
The Kid Laroi became a first-time winner, taking home five wins for his song “Stay” with Justin Bieber, whose Billboard Music Awards win count rose to 26.
Doja Cat came away with four awards. She won top R&B artist and R&B female artist for the second consecutive year, along with top R&B album and female artist.
Taylor Swift – who has the second most-ever award show wins with 29 – won four awards. Bad Bunny received two wins while R&B duo Silk Sonic, comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, won their first-ever award for top R&B song for “Leave the Door Open.”
Red carpet surprise: Travis Scott, Kylie Jenner step out at Billboard Music Awards with daughter Stormi
Nominees are determined by Billboard chart rankings and winners are selected based on several criteria, including their album and digital song sales, airplay and streaming success and touring.
The winners:
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist: Drake
Top New Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Male Artist: Drake
Top Female Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Duo/Group: BTS
Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Streaming Songs Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Song Sales Artist: BTS
Top Radio Songs Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Top Billboard Global (excl. U.S.) Artist: Ed Sheeran
Top Tour: The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top R&B Artist: Doja Cat
Top R&B Male Artist: The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist: Doja Cat
Top R&B Tour: Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)
Top Rap Artist: Drake
Top Rap Male Artist: Drake
Top Rap Female Artist: Megan Thee Stallion
Top Rap Tour: Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
Top Country Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Country Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group: Dan + Shay
Top Country Tour: Eric Church (Gather Again Tour)
Top Rock Artist: Glass Animals
Top Rock Tour: The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)
Top Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Male Artist: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Female Artist: Kali Uchis
Top Latin Duo/Group: Eslabon Armado
Top Latin Tour: Los Bukis (Una Historia Cantada Tour)
Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga
Top Christian Artist: Ye
Top Gospel Artist: Ye
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album: Olivia Rodrigo “Sour”
Top Soundtrack: “Encanto”
Top R&B Album: Doja Cat “Planet Her”
Top Rap Album: Drake “Certified Lover Boy”
Top Country Album: Taylor Swift “Red (Taylor’s Version)”
Top Rock Album: twenty one pilots “Scaled And Icy”
Top Latin Album: Karol G “KG0516”
Top Dance/Electronic Album: ILLENIUM “Fallen Embers”
Top Christian Album: Ye “Donda”
Top Gospel Album: Ye “Donda”
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song: The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber “STAY”
Top Streaming Song: The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber “STAY”
Top Selling Song: BTS “Butter”
Top Radio Song: Dua Lipa “Levitating”
Top Collaboration: The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber “STAY”
Top Billboard Global 200 Song: The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber “STAY”
Top Billboard Global (excl. U.S) Song: The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber “STAY”
Top Viral Song: Doja Cat ft. SZA “Kiss Me More”
Top R&B Song: Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) “Leave The Door Open”
Top Rap Song: Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow “INDUSTRY BABY”
Top Country Song: Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
Top Rock Song: Måneskin “Beggin’”
Top Latin Song: Kali Uchis “telepatía”
Top Dance/Electronic Song: Elton John & Dua Lipa “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix”
Top Christian Song: Ye “Hurricane”
Top Gospel Song: Ye “Hurricane”
