“And the winner is…” This is the phrase all viewers were waiting to hear while watching this year’s Billboard Music Awards on October 14. This A-list event featured the top musicians with the most popular songs of the year, based on Billboard’s rankings. Despite being postponed in April due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the award show was able to go on virtually for viewers, who witnessed all the action live from the comfort of their own homes. The ceremony was held in the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, and was hosted by none other than Kelly Clarkson; this was her third consecutive year as host of the Billboard Music Awards. She opened the ceremony with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Higher Love,” performing to the millions watching live on their television screens, as well as the nominees in the audience. 

Over fifty awards were handed out to artists over the course of the night. Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish won Top Female Artist of the year and led the pack with the most award nominations. Post Malone was Billboard’s big winner, taking home nine awards, including Top Artist, Top Streaming Song Artist, Top Male Artist, and many others. The top song on the Billboard “Hot 100 List” was Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ collaboration,  “Old Town Road.” The Jonas Brothers are an iconic trio, not just because of their musical talent, but because they are brothers, and they were happy to accept the award for Best Duo/Group. This year’s Icon Award, which recognizes singers and their contributions to the music world, was given to country star Garth Brooks. British singer and actor Harry Styles has been very successful lately because of his latest album “Fine Line.” It is fitting, then, that he received the Billboard Chart Achievement Award for his outstanding progress. Social and racial tensions have been very high in the past few months, and many celebrities and artists have shared their voices and advocated for change. Rapper and social activist Killer Mike was presented with the first and newest Billboard Change Award from the African American Panoramic Experience.

The red carpet looks did not disappoint, as many celebrities still managed to dazzle the paparazzi during this global pandemic. Singer and songwriter Lizzo made sure her presence was known, as she was dressed in a black, one-shoulder dress by Christian Siriano that displayed the word “Vote” all over its sashes. She gave a powerful speech that night and expressed her support of movements against racial injustice, as she stated, “When people try to suppress something, it’s usually because that thing holds power.” Freshman Elizabeth Ortiz commented on Lizzo’s style, and the message she wanted to convey: “It was bold, and a little biased towards one side, and was a little unnecessary. It could have been fairer to both sides of the parties.”

The app TikTok has led many popular users, including twenty-year-old Addison Rae, on a trip to stardom. She strived on the red carpet, wearing a stunning Mugler cutout gown, adorned with satin fabric and mesh side panels, paired with Jimmy Choo sandals. She then took the stage in a Valentino Bustier, silk trousers, and  paired it with a Bulgari diamond necklace. Freshman Alexis Raynor was impressed with how quickly Rae gained her fame and recalls a time when Rae was starting out on TikTok: “I thought Addison looked amazing in what she wore. It is crazy to me that she is now giving out awards, when she only started on TikTok.” Additionally, music icon Cher looked amazing in a black mini skirt and shirt set, with sequin embroidery, styled with fishnet tights, and ankle strap pumps.

The performances of the night were as powerful as the stars themselves. Many influential artists took the stage: Sia, Doja Cat, Luke Combs, and more. Freshman Chelsea Chico shared her opinion on what she believed was the best performance of the award show: “Post Malone was probably my favorite performance of the night, mostly because he is one of my favorite artists, and I am a huge fan.” After losing his baby son, Jack, to pregnancy complications with his wife, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend dedicated a heartfelt performance of  “Never Break” to his family. Icon Award winner, and country star, Garth Brooks performed a mashup of his songs, including “Friends in Low Places,” “The Thunder Rolls,” and “The River.” Demi Lovato delivered an earth-shattering performance of her song condemning Donald Trump and his presidency, called “Commander in Chief.” The ceremony ended with a tribute to famous guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who recently passed away from cancer at the age of 65. Billboard shared video footage from the 2015 Billboard Music Awards when Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, took the stage with him for a rare live television performance. It was a perfect way to end such a successful award show, reminding everyone that even in the darkest times, music can still be a strong, uniting force.