For the first time since 2019, the Billboard Music Awards returned to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday night (May 15), marking the 18th time the BBMAs have been held at the legendary Vegas venue — and with it Distance most frequent event host site for the award ceremony of the 33-year-old.
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Unforgettable performances were provided by the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Silk Sonic, Ed Sheeran, Machine Gun Kelly and many more, while the night’s big winners included Doja Cat, Glass Animals and Icon Award winner Mary J. Blige. But while you caught all of that on TV and/or Peacock on Sunday night, there are still plenty of things that happened at the MGM Grand Garden Arena that you missed if you were just watching from afar. Here are some of the most memorable:
pre show: Singer-songwriter Elle King entered the venue in a wheelchair and with a crutch, apparently less than 100% physically fit prior to her performance alongside “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” co-star Miranda Lambert BBMAs . (You’d never have known, however, from her energetic and seemingly unhindered performance later that night.) Limping onto the red carpet (next to Lambert) for her interview with Billboard News’ Tetris Kelly, she explained that she had herself recently sprained her ankle — but that didn’t stop her from rocking dazzling heels.
8:03 p.m. ET: After introducing his “special surprise guest” Jack Harlow for a rendition of the rapper’s recent Billboard Hot 100-topping “First Class,” host and opening cast member Diddy shot offstage – but took a moment to rush at the first moment greeted a few friendly faces (including his mother Janice Combs) and then stormed onto a side stage to join son King Combs and R&B star Teyana Taylor to perform the ’90s bad-boy classic “Mo Money, Mo Problems.” to demonstrate.
8:05: During the opening performance, Fat Joe, Shenseea and Kali Uchis were seen eating lollipops, still waiting outside the MGM venue, and unable to take their seats until the next commercial break.
8:33: Diddy warns that he “will do something [awards show producers] Hate” and demands that his teleprompter be turned off before yelling “WE ARE FREE!” In case you’re wondering, yes, they actually turned off the teleprompter in the venue on his orders.
8:34: When the presenter calls his butler Frank onto the stage to announce the appearance of one of his favorite artists, Rauw Alejandro, the Combs family in the audience stand up and cheer Diddy’s obviously beloved employee. While Alejandro performs, Ty Dolla $ign stands in the crowd and Becky G dances to his rendition of “Cúrame”.
8:43: After talking to Becky G during a commercial break, Diplo wants to be seated – but is interrupted by security checking his credentials, probably unaware of his status as a superstar producer.
8:54: Fat Joe, Doja Cat and DJ Khaled sit together and chat during a commercial break while Fat Joe puts his arm around Khaled, his longtime collaborator. The three later take a picture together, taken by model/actress Cara Delevingne.
Cara Delevingne on the floor taking photos of Doja Cat, Fat Joe and DJ Khaled at #BBMAs. pic.twitter.com/8MtwBJi0W7
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 16, 2022
9:01 a.m: A stagehand rushes over at the end of Lambert and King’s “Drunk” performance to make sure they don’t get hit on the head by a rapidly descending stage cover while frozen in the end-song pose. He manages to get her out of the danger zone just in time.
9:10: A drum kit (with an “MW” logo on the bass drum) that was parked at the back of the venue is brought to the side stage during an intermission as Morgan Wallen’s band takes the stage and the drummer quietly warms up on his set. Sporadic backup chants of “Mor-gan Wa-len!” can be heard through the crowd.
9:17: As Illenium ends his acceptance speech for Best Dance/Electronic Album (won from his Fallen Embers set) by promising “See you soon,” a voice rises from the audience, obviously very willing to remind him: “See you next weekend! See you next weekend!! See you Sunday!!” (In fact, Illenium is playing at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas the following weekend.)
9:29: When Megan Thee Stallion takes the stage, the entire crowd jumps to their feet and most pull out their phones to record the rap superstar’s performance. In the audience, Doja Cat can be seen rapping along to Megan’s new single “Plan B” while DJ Khaled flutters to the beat.
9:44: Icon Award winner Mary J. Blige introduces 2018 honoree Janet Jackson. The reception to Jackson’s performance at the venue is somewhat overwhelming, with a loud standing ovation and shouts of “I LOVE YOU, JANET!” emanated from the entire crowd, drowning out much of her early remarks.
9:58: For the second time in the show’s second hour, practice flames unexpectedly shoot off the stage ahead of an upcoming performance. The first time it was for Megan Thee Stallion; This time it’s for Machine Gun Kelly – appropriate enough for the song he would eventually play, “Twin Flame”.
10:29: After introducing a group of kids from Capital Prep Harden, one of the charter schools he founded in the Northeast, Diddy dances excitedly as the show goes into a commercial break. Before the mogul leaves the venue, the mogul and all of his students in attendance gather for a big, Awww-worthy group hug.
10:44: After their two podium appearances for top rock artists and the special Pepsi Mic Drop Award (won for the historic journey of their Hot 100-topping hit “Heat Waves”), the members of Glass Animals can wait outside the venue at one Beverage stand lined up.
10:55: As Mary J. Blige leaves the venue after the performance of her former co-headliner Maxwell (cover of Michael Jackson’s “The Lady in My Life”), she gets a big round of applause from the fans she passes. But those fans are quickly drowned out by those at the back of the arena, who realize that the video, shown as commercial break entertainment, is one of K-pop superstars BTS, who is alongside his Hot 100 Top 10 hit “Boy With Luv.” ‘ performs Halsey at the 2019 BBMAs. At the volume of the screams, you wouldn’t believe the group wasn’t even inside the building.
-Additional reporting by Lucy Blonstein and Dan Rys