Billie Eilish became the first winner at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, scooping up the gong for Top Billboard 200 Album for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Beating out competitors Drake, Khalid, Post Malone, and Taylor Swift for the honor, Eilish arrived on stage wearing a face mask as she was presented the award by Nicole Richie.
‘Oh, gosh. Oh, this is heavy,’ Eilish, 18, remarked as she accepted the award, live from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Wednesday. ‘Thank you, Nicole. Thank you guys so much this is amazing. I wanted to say, thank you to the fans, thank you for believing in me and caring about me still, I don’t know why you do I also want to say that I never, ever take these for granted. It is always a shock when I win anything at all. Thank you, billboard thank you, guys. I love you thank you, thank you, thank you, mwah.’
‘Thank you for believing in me’: Billie Eilish became the first winner at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, scooping up the gong for Top Billboard 200 Album
Next, Sia performed Courage To Change on stage wearing an elaborate yellow bow on her hair.
The show opened with host Kelly Clarkson performing Higher Love in a dazzling gold dress, before enthusiastically kicking off the ceremony to an audience-less room.
‘There’s no audience, it’s just me. Yeah, I’m my own own hype girl!’ Kelly remarked as she enthusiastically opened the show.
The next award was for Top Hot 100 song, which went to Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus for their smash hit Old Town Road.
‘I love you thank you’: Beating out competitors Drake, Khalid, Post Malone, and Taylor Swift for the honor, Eilish arrived on stage wearing a face mask as she was presented the award by Nicole Richie
‘It is always a shock when I win anything at all’: The critically-acclaimed singer was blown away by the win
The hostess with the mostest! The show opened with host Kelly Clarkson performing Higher Love in a dazzling gold dress, before enthusiastically kicking off the ceremony to an audience-less room
Golden girl: The American Idol vet looked fab in a ruched gold dress as she kicked off the big show
Nas accepted the award by himself, and blew kisses to the crowd-less room following his brief speech.
‘Thank you to everybody, thank you to Billy Ray Cyrus. I want everybody going to look out next month for Nas-vember, it’s going to go crazy. 2021 dropping the best album of all time, I love you, good night,’ Nas said.
Alicia Keys dazzled viewers at home with a powerful performance of her track Love Looks Better.
The songstress looked fabulous as she took the stage in a glittering bodysuit flanked by face mask-wearing back-up dancers.
Curl power! Next, Sia performed Courage To Change on stage wearing an elaborate yellow bow on her hair
‘Look out next month for Nas-vember’: Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus won Top Hot 100 for their smash hit Old Town Road
Spreading the love: Nas accepted the award by himself, and blew kisses to the crowd-less room following his brief speech
All that glitters: Alicia Keys dazzled viewers at home with a powerful performance of her track Love Looks Better
Eilish returned to the stage as the winner of Top Female Artist, beating out Halsey, Ariana Grande, Lizzo, and Taylor Swift.
‘Oh my god this is so nuts,’ she remarked. ‘Thank you so much Billboard. Thank you to all the women that have come before me and paved my way. I love you, please vote. Please wear a mask, please wash your hands. Be safe.’
Next Jane Lynch came up to introduce the award for Top Country Artist, which went to Luke Combs.
Immediately, Luke began performing a moving rendition of his song Better Together at the side of the stage before accepting the award.
Powerful: Keys looked incredible on the smoky stage
Going for the gold! Luke Combs performed Better Together immediately after winning Top Country Artist
‘I want to thank Billboard for this,’ Luke said. ‘This is an incredible honor. And something I would have never dreamed of when I was growing up, when I started doing this, I just want to thank the fans out there, my beautiful wife at home, my team, my band.
‘I know everybody out there has been through so much this year. I want to thank the crew that is working on this show tonight, because they have gone through some insane stuff to make this happen for you guys. I hope everybody’s staying safe at home. Thank you so much for loving what I do. It never falls on deaf ears, the love that you guys give me and I’m very grateful for it and so is my team thank you guys so much.’
Following a performance of Circles by Post Malone, Lizzo was announced as the winner of Top Song Sales Artist.
Beating out nominees Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Post Malone, and Taylor Swift, Lizzo made a political statement as she accepted the award wearing a ‘Vote’ mini dress.
‘Hi. I just want to say, thank you to Billboard, thank you to Atlantic, thank you to Team Lizzo, thank you to everyone who listens to my music and supported me,’ Lizzo said. ‘I just want to say, I’ve been thinking a lot about suppression and the voices that refuse to be suppressed. I wonder, would I be standing here right now if it weren’t for the big Black women who refused to have their voices be suppressed?
‘I just want to say right now, if you’re at home watching this, you are thinking about changing yourself to feel worthy, this is your sign to remain true to who you are. Let me tell you all something – when people try to suppress something, it’s normally because that thing holds power. They’re afraid of your power. There’s power in who you are, there’s power in your voice. So whether it’s through music, protests, or your right to vote, use your power use your voice and refuse to be suppressed. Thank you so much to Billboard I love you all god bless you all. Bye!’
2020 Billboard Music Awards Winners
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist
Billie Eilish
Jonas Brothers
Khalid
Post Malone
Taylor Swift
Post Malone earned the most nominations, with 16
Billboard Chart Achievement Award (Fan Voted)
Mariah Carey
Luke Combs
Lil Nas X
Harry Styles
Taylor Swift
Top Female Artist
Billie Eilish – WINNER
Ariana Grande
Halsey
Lizzo
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Billie Eilish
Khalid
Post Malone
Taylor Swift
Top Streaming Songs Artist
DaBaby
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Post Malone
Travis Scott
Lil Nas X came in with 13 nominations
Top Radio Songs Artist
Jonas Brothers
Khalid
Lizzo
Shawn Mendes
Post Malone
Top Touring Artist
Elton John
Metallica
P!nk
The Rolling Stones
Ed Sheeran
Top R&B Male Artist
Chris Brown
Khalid
The Weeknd
Janet Jackson was nominated for Top R&B Tour. In 2018 she won the coveted Icon Award
Top R&B Tour
B2K
Janet Jackson
Khalid
Top Rap Male Artist
DaBaby
Lil Nas X
Post Malone
Top Rap Tour
Drake
Post Malone
Travis Scott
Top Country Male Artist
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Florida Georgia Line got two nominations
Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Top Rock Artist
Imagine Dragons
Panic! At The Disco
Tame Impala
Tool
twenty one pilots
J Balvin has five nominations
Top Latin Artist
Anuel AA
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna
Romeo Santos
Top Christian Artist
Lauren Daigle
Elevation Worship
For King & Country
Hillsong United
Kanye West
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album
Billie Eilish ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’ – WINNER
Ariana Grande ‘Thank U, Next’
Khalid ‘Free Spirit’
Post Malone ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’
Taylor Swift ‘Lover’
Top R&B Album
Beyoncé ‘Homecoming: The Live Album’
Justin Bieber ‘Changes’
Chris Brown ‘Indigo’
Khalid ‘Free Spirit’
Summer Walker ‘Over It’
Beyonce has two nominations for R&B
Top Country Album
Kane Brown ‘Experiment’
Luke Combs ‘What You See Is What You Get’
Maren Morris ‘Girl’
Thomas Rhett ‘Center Point Road’
Morgan Wallen ‘If I Know Me’
Top Latin Album
J Balvin & Bad Bunny ‘Oasis’
Farruko ‘Gangalee’
Maluma ’11:11′
Romeo Santos ‘Utopía’
Sech ‘Sueños’
Top Christian Album
Bethel Music ‘Victory: Recorded Live’
Casting Crowns ‘Only Jesus’
Hillsong United ‘People’
Skillet ‘Victorious’
Kanye West ‘Jesus is King’
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song
Lewis Capaldi ‘Someone You Loved’
Billie Eilish ‘bad guy’
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Old Town Road’ – WINNER
Lizzo ‘Truth Hurts’
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello ‘Señorita’
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s ‘Señorita is up for two awards
Top Selling Song
Lewis Capaldi ‘Someone You Loved’
Billie Eilish ‘bad guy’
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Old Town Road’
Lizzo ‘Truth Hurts’
Blake Shelton ‘God’s Country’
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)
Chris Brown ft. Drake ‘No Guidance’
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Old Town Road’
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello ‘Señorita’
Post Malone & Swae Lee ‘Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)’
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber ‘I Don’t Care’
Top Rap Song
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Old Town Road’
Lil Tecca ‘Ran$om’
Lizzo ‘Truth Hurts’
Post Malone & Swae Lee ‘Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)’
Post Malone ‘Wow.’
Panic! At The Disco has three nominations
Top Rock Song
Imagine Dragons ‘Bad Liar’
Machine Gun Kelly x Yungblud x Travis Barker ‘I Think I’m Okay’
Panic! At The Disco ‘Hey Look Ma, I Made It’
Twenty One Pilots ‘Chlorine’
Twenty One Pilots ‘The Hype’
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Black Eyed Peas x J Balvin ‘Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)’
Ellie Goulding x Diplo ft. Swae Lee ‘Close To Me’
Illenium & Jon Bellion ‘Good Things Fall Apart’
Kygo x Whitney Houston ‘Higher Love’
Marshmello ft. Chvrches ‘Here With Me’
Top New Artist
DaBaby
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Roddy Ricch
Top Male Artist
DaBaby
Khalid
Lil Nas X
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Duo/Group
BTS
Dan + Shay
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
Panic! At The Disco
Top Hot 100 Artist
DaBaby
Billie Eilish
Khalid
Lil Nas X
Post Malone
Billie Eilish is nominated in 12 categories
Top Song Sales Artist
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo – WINNER
Post Malone
Taylor Swift
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)
BTS
Billie Eilish
EXO GOT7
Ariana Grande
Top R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Khalid
Lizzo
Summer Walker
The Weeknd
Lizzo earned 11 nominations
Top R&B Female Artist
Beyoncé
Lizzo
Summer Walker
Top Rap Artist
DaBaby
Juice WRLD
Lil Nas X
Post Malone
Roddy Ricch
Top Rap Female Artist
Cardi B
City Girls
Megan Thee Stallion
Top Country Artist
Kane Brown
Luke Combs – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Maren Morris
Thomas Rhett
Kane Brown got nods in three categories
Top Country Female Artist
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Tour
Eric Church
Florida Georgia Line
George Strait
Top Rock Tour
Elton John
Metallica
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones got two touring nominations
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Avicii
The Chainsmokers
DJ Snake
Illenium
Marshmello
Top Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Sunday Service Choir
Kanye West
Kanye West earned nine nominations in Christian and Gospel categories
Top Soundtrack:
‘Aladdin’
‘Descendants 3’
‘Frozen II’
‘K-12’ by Melanie Martinez
‘The Dirt’ by Mötley Crüe
Top Rap Album
DaBaby ‘Kirk’
Juice WRLD ‘Death Race For Love’
Post Malone ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’
Roddy Ricch ‘Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial’
Young Thug ‘So Much Fun’
Top Rock Album
The Lumineers ‘III’
Slipknot ‘We Are Not Your Kind’
Tame Impala ‘The Slow Rush’
Tool ‘Fear Inoculum’
Vampire Weekend ‘Father of the Bride’
Top Dance/Electronic Album
Avicii ‘Tim’
The Chainsmokers ‘World War Joy’
Illenium ‘Ascend’
Marshmello ‘Marshmello: Fortnite Extended Set’
Alan Walker ‘Different World’
Marshmello has three nominations
Top Gospel Album
Kirk Franklin ‘Long Live Love’
Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers ‘Goshen’
William McDowell ‘The Cry: A Live Worship Experience’
Sunday Service Choir ‘Jesus Is Born’
Kanye West ‘Jesus is King’
Top Streaming Song
Chris Brown ft. Drake ‘No Guidance’
Billie Eilish ‘bad guy’
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Old Town Road’
Lil Tecca ‘Ran$om’
Post Malone & Swae Lee ‘Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)’
Top Radio Song
Lewis Capaldi ‘Someone You Loved’
Jonas Brothers ‘Sucker’
Khalid ‘Talk’
Lizzo ‘Truth Hurts’
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber ‘I Don’t Care’
Top R&B Song
Chris Brown ft. Drake ‘No Guidance’
Doja Cat & Tyga ‘Juicy’
Khalid ‘Talk’
Lizzo ‘Good As Hell’
The Weeknd ‘Heartless’
Dan + Shay are up for four awards, including their collaboration with Justin Bieber
Top Country Song
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber ‘10,000 Hours’
Maren Morris ‘The Bones’
Old Dominion ‘One Man Band’
Blake Shelton ‘God’s Country’
Morgan Wallen ‘Whiskey Glasses’
Top Latin Song
Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna & J Balvin ‘China’
Bad Bunny & Tainy ‘Callaita’
Daddy Yankee ft. Snow ‘Con Calma’
Jhay Cortez, J Balvin, & Bad Bunny ‘No Me Conoce’
Sech ft. Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna, Anuel AA ‘Otro Trago’
Top Christian Song
Bethel Music, Jonathan David Helser & Melissa Helser ‘Raise A Hallelujah’
Casting Crowns ft. Matthew West ‘Nobody’
Lauren Daigle ‘Rescue’
For King & Country ‘God Only Knows’
Kanye West ‘Follow God’
Top Gospel Song
Kirk Franklin ‘Love Theory’
Kanye West ‘Closed on Sunday’
Kanye West ‘Follow God’
Kanye West ‘On God’
Kanye West ‘Selah’
Lauren Daigle is up for two awards