(CNN) The 2018 Billboard Music Awards celebrated some of music's biggest names on Sunday night.
The ceremony was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Kelly Clarkson. The singer opened the show with a tribute to the victims of Friday's mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas.
"I'm a Texas girl and my home state has had so much heartbreak over this past year. And once again, y'all, we're grieving for more kids that have died for just no reason at all," Clarkson said.
A slew of artists took the stage to perform throughout the night, including John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande.
Korean pop band BTS became the first-ever Korean act to perform at the ceremony, debuting their new single "Fake Love." They also took home the award for Top Social Artist.
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The 13 Best Moments From the 2018 Billboard Music Awards
The 2018 Billboard Music Awards may be over, but not without making an impact. Whether stars were championing each other, honoring lives we've lost or giving a voice to those who need it most, this year's show was a powerful one from Kelly Clarkson's moving cold open to Salt-N-Pepa's nostalgic (and energetic) finish.
There were plenty of memorable, GIF-able and quote-able moments from the 2018 BBMAs on Sunday night (May 20), and we've rounded up our favorite highlights below.
Kelly Clarkson’s call to action
Before officially kicking off the night with an awe-inspiring medley of the year’s biggest Billboard hits, Clarkson started her Billboard Music Awards hosting gig by paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic Sante Fe High School shooting just two days prior. In a powerful move, Clarkson went against what producers asked and called on fans and viewers to take action.
"I’m so sick of the moment of silence because it’s not working,” she said while choking back tears. "How about a moment of action, a moment of change. Why don’t we change what’s happening?”
Khalid dancing to Kelly Clarkson’s opening performance
Between performing with Shawn Mendes and Normani and winning top new artist, Khalid had a pretty solid Billboard Music Awards experience. But his highlight of the night may have been Kelly Clarkson’s opening number, especially when she sang his hit “Young, Dumb & Broke.” Please see GIF evidence below.
Luis Fonsi’s shout-out to the Spanish-speaking community
While accepting the award for Top Hot 100 Song for “Despacito,” Fonsi thanked fans for loving a mostly Spanish song and then went on to deliver an inspiring message to those who speak his language. “This goes out to all my Latino brothers, all the immigrants. All the DREAMers out there, all of those who get made fun of when you speak with an accent, all of those when they say, ‘Hey speak English.’ To you — Puerto Rico, this goes out to you."
Camila Cabello being unapologetically herself
Camila Cabello has always been a goofball, but it was especially apparent at this year's BBMAs. Camila was clearly pumped for her new tour mate when Swift won top female artist, jumping up and down while the “Delicate” singer made her way to the stage. Then when Swift shouted her out during her speech, Cabello let loose, and continued to throughout the rest of the night (like headbanging during Shawn Mendes' performance) — and it was awesome.
Tyra Bank’s “That was powerful” response to Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato's performance
The dynamic divas had the whole arena on their feet after the debut of their new collaboration “Fall In Line,” but there was one reaction that encompassed what everyone was thinking:
"That was powerful!!!!!!!!!!" - Tyra Banks reacts to Christina Aguilera & Demi Lovato's duet pic.twitter.com/Ka4CHdp6YF — Born Salty (@cjzero) May 21, 2018
Cardi B’s “cameo” during J.Lo’s “Dinero” performance
With a baby on the way in a number of weeks, Cardi B was unable to assist her latest collaborators Jennifer Lopez and DJ Khaled with their performance of “Dinero.” Even with her absence, Cardi made sure to still make an appearance through a fabulous black-and-white video tearing up her verse — and of course having J.Lo join in for the already iconic line, "Two bad bitches that came from the Bronx."
Shawn Mendes and Khalid giving Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students the spotlight
In line with the action that Clarkson called for in the show's beginning, Mendes and Khalid had Parkland students join them for their poignant anthem, "Youth," a powerful addition that resulted in a prolonged standing ovation.
Chills from this moving @ShawnMendes & @thegreatkhalid performance. A huge thank you to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Show Choir for being a part of this special #BBMAs moment. pic.twitter.com/tBntNJs2J5 — Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018
Taylor Swift’s empowering acceptance speeches
Swift was already inspiring during her first win, calling out her fellow female musicians as she accepted the award for top female artist. But she really gave fans all the feels upon accepting her second award (for top selling album), sending a heartfelt thank you to those Swifties that have helped her “feel understood again."
Look What You Made @taylorswift13 do -- ...WIN the #BBMAs for Top Female Artist! Congrats! pic.twitter.com/adf3zY3YxG — Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018
Andy Cohen bopping to Janet Jackson
The Watch What Happens Live host had some pretty GIF-able moments throughout the entire show, but his dancing to Janet Jackson’s performance was one that even GIPHY had to acknowledge:
Janet Jackson’s nod to #TimesUp and #MeToo
The 2018 Icon Award recipient was obviously one of the night’s most-anticipated stars, and she made the most of her position with a powerful shout-out to those who have taken part in the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements. "I believe for all our challenges, we live at a glorious moment history,” she declared. "It's a moment when, at long last, women have made it clear that we will no longer be controlled, manipulated or abused. I stand with those women and with those men equally outraged who support us in heart and mind."
Simon Cowell and Kelly Clarkson have a mini American Idol reunion
Coincidentally on the same night that the American Idol finale aired, the Season 1 winner and OG judge had a brief run-in on the BBMAs stage — and it was as adorable as any Idol fan would’ve hoped. Clarkson looked genuinely excited to see Cowell as they went in for a hug, and the now-America’s Got Talent judge couldn’t help gushing over the singer's impressive performance. "That was bloody fantastic, what can I say? I’m very proud of you."
Jungkook’s abs flash
It was no secret that BTS’ performance was one of the most (if not the most) awaited of the night, and they absolutely blew expectations out of the water with their high-energy debut of “Fake Love.” While the entire performance undoubtedly made the Internet erupt, Jungkook’s quick shot of his rock-hard abs likely made fans' already melting hearts complete mush.
thank u jungkook pic.twitter.com/dzXFANa2O9 — jungkook being extra (@kookbeingextra) May 21, 2018
Salt-N-Pepa closing out the show
Putting the cap on a night that featured hits of the last year, Salt-N-Pepa reminded the world that the '90s had some of the GOAT jams. Joining forces with another sassy bunch of legends, En Vogue, the gals delivered a fiery medley of "Shoop/Let's Talk About Sex/Push It/Whatta Man” that sent everyone off with both throwback and positive vibes.
The 10 Best Performances From the 2018 Billboard Music Awards
The Billboard Music Awards went down this Sunday night (May 20) with big wins for Taylor Swift, Luis Fonsi, Khalid and many more, and plenty of powerful moments inspired by recent real-world events.
And of course, there were great performances: duets that spanned generations, breakout moments from solo stars looking to go next-level, and icons proving why they're every bit worthy of the descriptor. Here are Billboard's ten favorite performances from the night that was.
10. Ed Sheeran, "Galway Girl"
Beamed in via satellite from Dublin, Ireland, the energy from Ed Sheeran's rendition of Divide cut "Galway Girl" was still fairly palpable, as Ed's racing vocal and frenzied acoustic delivery carried the song with impressive energy, despite not having a rhythm track as accompaniment. Of course, it helps when you have an entire sea of ecstatic fans singing your words back to you -- the ones who can keep up, anyway.
9. Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, "The Middle"
You couldn't help but wonder if the three artists might've tried reinventing their 2018 smash the way the way Zedd and Alessia Cara did with their stripped-down "Stay" at the American Music Awards last year. But when you've got a pop song as perfect as "The Middle," sometimes you're best off just leaving well enough alone, and that's what they did with their emphatic rendition of the top 5 hit, with Maren Morris' soaring vocal proving that whatever circuitous route it took to end up with her on the song, it was clearly worth the trouble.
8. Shawn Mendes & Khalid, "Youth"
Mendes & Khalid's splendidly intertwining vocals made their collab a far more powerful experience live than on record, particularly once they were joined by the Marjory Stoneman choir for the song's rousing climax. The "Protect Our Children" message on Khalid's shirt was also undeniably powerful, though actually not as much so as the titular message on Mendes' and the choir's sweatshirts, a powerful one-word phrase that almost serves as its own statement of defiance in today's age of such relentless teenage tragedy.
7. Kelly Clarkson, 2017-'18 Hits Medley
If Ariana Grande's stunning opening number didn't get BBMAs viewers back in the mood for music celebration, Kelly Clarkson's monologue-ending medley of recent smashes -- from the wide-ranging likes of Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons and an overcome-with-disbelief Maren Morris -- certainly got the show right on track. The highlights from the vocal powerhouse's typically room-shaking performance were many, but hard to beat Taylor Swift in the audience, miming along to her own "Look What You Made Me Do" chorus, fingernail-check and all.
6. Khalid & Normani, "Love Lies"
Few presences are as genial at a pop awards show as Khalid, whose soothing voice, blinding smile and shirt-half-tucked casualness make every performance of his compelling. But the star-making turn at the BBMAs performance of "Love Lies" was undoubtedly Normani's, looking like Beyoncé with the hallway poses of her intro, equally scorching with her moves and vocals, and managing to fill the stage as much on her own as she ever did with her fellow 5Hers.
5. Salt-n-Pepa, "Shoop"/"Let's Talk About Sex"/"Push It"/"Whatta Man" (feat. En Vogue)
Keeping the vibe alive from Janet Jackson's Icon performance,Salt-n-Pepa took the stage to perform an anniversary-honoring medley of their four best-remembered hits: a quartet of still-vital pop and hip-hop classics that brought such sparkling, brightly colored fun to the BBMAsstage that Kelly Clarkson had to get in at the end for a last-second cameo. Between the trio, En Vogue and Janet, it was sorta hard not to be left wishing for an entire show of '93 throwbacks: Where are K7 and The Breeders when you need 'em?
4. BTS, "Fake Love"
"Let's welcome the biggest boy band in the world!" offered Kelly Clarkson by way of BTS introduction. If that status wasn't clear from the screaming in the audience every time the group's presence was even suggested, it was from their performance of new single "Fake Love," an immaculately choreographed, energetically delivered rendition with the fans filling in the gaps at every possible opportunity. The group's momentum has only continued to skyrocket since their coming-out win at the 2017 BBMAs, and it's not decelerating anytime soon.
3. Christina Aguilera & Demi Lovato, "Fall in Line"
Two generations of old-school belters came together for the most impressive sheer vocal showcase of the entire BBMAs, with Christina and Demi pushing each other to awesomely melismatic heights in a performance that made Tyra Banks understandably bug-eyed. The vocal calisthenics threatened to overshadow the song in spots, but that's fine -- "Fall in Line" was basically designed for its duet partners to stunt over it in such grand fashion, so that's sort of the point anyway.
2. Ariana Grande, "No Tears Left to Cry"
Ariana had the unenviable task of opening the BBMAs following an appropriately tear-choked, wrenching speech from Kelly Clarkson about the Santa Fe shooting that happened late last week, which served as the show's cold open. But with her similarly emotional, rain-soaked performance of her Sweetenerlead single -- a song certainly no stranger to tragedy itself -- Ariana pivoted the catharsis back to a musical one with typical grace and professionalism, and with some show-stopping vocal runs in the final chorus that made "No Tears" even more of a wallop than usual.
1. Janet Jackson, "Nasty"/"If"/"Throb" Medley
It would've been easy for Janet to accept her lifetime achievement award with a medley of her biggest hits, but it takes a true Icon to have a career that spans 12 Hot 100 No. 1 smashes, and to encompass your life's work with a mini-set that doesn't include any of them. The forever block-rocking "Nasty" was an obvious choice, guaranteed by then-soon-to-be President Trump's thoughtless comments to be an anthem for the ensuing #MeToo era, and a quick dip into the iconic intro choreography to "If" -- which Janet can still nail at age 52 -- was an inspired break.
But the real coup was "Throb," an explicit '90s Janet club favorite that was never even released as an official single, but endures as one of her most addictive bangers and most personal, radical statements. Performed at the BBMAs with an emphasis on its communal energy, it made clear that what made Ms. Jackson special a quarter-century ago is just as important today: Her belief that the fights for personal freedom and political freedom are forever intertwined, and that love truly is the best way to combat both.
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