Billboard Awards Pays Tribute to School Shooting Victims

Ed Sheeran won the night's biggest honor
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 21, 2018 5:07 AM CDT
Billboard Awards Pays Tribute to School Shooting Victims
Host Kelly Clarkson introduces a performance by BTS at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday in Las Vegas.   (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

The Billboard Music Awards paid tribute to the students and teachers affected by recent deadly shootings in Texas and Florida, while the night also featured show-stopping performances by iconic singer Janet Jackson and K-pop group BTS. A tearful and emotional Kelly Clarkson opened the show in honor of the 10 people who died Friday at Santa Fe High School, barely able to speak as she urged the audience and the world to do more to prevent deadly shootings from happening, the AP reports. She said she was asked to hold a moment of silence, but she chose instead to call for "a moment of action." "Once again we're grieving for more kids that have died ... I'm so sick of [moments of silence] ... it's not working," she said, almost in tears. "Mommies and daddies should be able to send their kids to school."

Shawn Mendes and Khalid, who won top new artist at the event Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, were joined onstage by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas show choir for the song "Youth," a performance occurring three months after 17 people were killed at the Florida school. The show wasn't all somber, though: Jackson, who earned the Icon award, delivered an energetic and powerful performance of her past hits. Ed Sheeran, who didn't attend the show but performed from Dublin, won the night's biggest honor—top artist, besting Bruno Mars, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Taylor Swift. But Swift didn't leave empty-handed: She won top female artist and top selling album for Reputation. Click for a full list of winners.

(More Billboard Music awards stories.)

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