DRAKE has surpassed Adele's record at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, picking up 13 awards.
Adele set a record at the show in 2012 with 12 wins. The rapper, who walked into the show Sunday with 22 nominations, won top artist, top male artist and top Billboard 200 album ("Views"), among others, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
"I got my whole family up here," said Drake, who stood onstage with nearly two dozen people, including his father, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.
Drake was presented the top artist award by Prince Jackson, the late Michael Jackson's eldest son. Drake beat out Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Adele, Ariana Grande, the Weeknd, twenty one pilots, Shawn Mendes and the Chainsmokers for the top prize. Of those nominees, only Drake and the Chainsmokers attended the Billboard Awards.
But other big names showed up.
Cher, who received the Icon award, sang her dance anthem "Believe" in a glittery number that included pasties and blonde hair with pink tips. She later changed to a huge, curly black 'do — and wore a black sheer bodysuit and leather jacket for "If I Could Turn Back Time." Her performance had the audience on its feet, singing and dancing.
"I wanted to do what I do since I was 4 years old and I've been doing it for 53 years," said Cher, who turned 71 on Saturday. "And I can do a five-minute plank. Just saying."
"I think luck has so much to do with my success with a little bit of something thrown in," she added.
Korean boy band BTS, who won top social artist, earned one of the night's loudest ovations. Another highlight was Celine Dion.
In a beautiful, Met Gala-ready white gown, she belted out "My Heart Will Go On," the Oscar-winning song from "Titanic." The film is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. John Legend and Florida Georgia Line also had a shining moment when they sang a duet version of the country duo's soft hit, "H.O.L.Y."
Dan Reynolds of the rock band Imagine Dragons led a moment of silence for Chris Cornell, who died Thursday. He called the Soundgarden and Audioslave singer "a true innovator," ''a musical architect," ''a prolific songwriting" and "a legendary performer" — as a large photo of Cornell singing with his eyes closed was displayed behind him.
"We send our respects as well as our love to Chris' family at this time," Reynolds said.
Miley Cyrus sang her breezy new single, "Malibu," delivering a sound and muted style that were marked departure from the hits that made her a pop star years ago. She was teary-eyed at the end of the performance.
"And for the first time in years with pants on," Noah Cyrus, standing next to father Billy Ray Cyrus, introduced her older sister, who was wearing white shorts and a cowboy hat.
Nicki Minaj kicked off the show with an explosive nine-minute performance of her hit songs alongside her mentor Lil Wayne and frequent collaborator David Guetta.
Minaj recently broke Aretha Franklin's record for most songs placed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by a female artist. The rapper-singer, who was also joined by Jason Derulo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, performed "No Frauds," her song that was a response to fellow rapper Remy Ma's infamous diss track against Minaj.
Drake walked into the Billboard Awards with 10 awards, while early winners included Beyonce, who won five, and twenty one pilots, who won four. The Chainsmokers and Halsey won the first televised award — top collaboration — for "Closer."
"Honestly we wrote this on the back of a tour bus," said Andrew Taggart, adding that Halsey "made this a hit song."
The Chainsmokers performed "Young" with Taggart on vocals and Alex Pall behind the board (they were also backed by a drummer). Ed Sheeran performed "Castle on the Hill" from Santiago, Chile, while Lorde sang her upbeat song "Green Light."
Drake and the Chainsmokers were top contenders with 22 nominations each. The rapper and the electronic dance duo are two of the few top-nominated acts who plan to attend the show. Beyonce, Rihanna, Adele, Ariana Grande, the Weeknd, twenty one pilots and Shawn Mendes will not attend.
Some are on tour, while Beyonce is pregnant with twins. It was unclear if Justin Bieber would attend the show.
All 10 of those acts are nominated for the night's biggest award — top artist. Performers include Bruno Mars, Celine Dion and Cher, who will receive the Icon award.
Some of Drake's early wins included top Billboard 200 artist, top Hot 100 artist, top rap artist, top rap album ("Views") and top R&B song ("One Dance"). Beyonce's wins included top female artist, top touring artist and top R&B album for "Lemonade," the visual project that won a Peabody Award on Saturday at its 76th annual event in New York.
The Chainsmokers, named top dance/electronic artist, are nominated twice for top Hot 100 song with "Closer," which spent 12 weeks at No. 1 last year, and the Grammy-winning "Don't Let Me Down," which peaked at No. 3. Other nominees include Drake's "One Dance" (10 weeks at No. 1); Justin Timberlake's Oscar-nominated "Can't Stop the Feeling!" (a week at No. 1); and twenty one pilots' "Heathens," which peaked at No. 2.
Imagine Dragons, who will perform during the show, will pay tribute to the late Chris Cornell in words before they hit the stage. Cornell died Thursday after performing with Soundgarden in Detroit.
Others set to perform on Sunday include Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, John Legend and Halsey. (AP)