The 7 biggest moments from the Billboard Music Awards
If you slept on the 2016 Billboard Music Awards — or watched Game of Thrones instead — you missed quite a show.
This year's BBMAs was packed with emotional moments and big-name performances, the evening's actual awards secondary to — among other moments — Kesha's triumphant return to the TV stage, Celine Dion's tearful remembrance of her husband, and Madonna's Stevie Wonder-assisted tribute to Prince.
Revisit the night's most noteworthy events.
Britney Spears opened with her greatest hits
The evening kicked off with a survey of classic pop songs from Billboard royalty. Britney Spears gave viewers a taste of her Las Vegas residency with a career-spanning array of hits, as she dutifully tore off her dress, slinked around the stage and plugged away at the vocals (with the help of some backing vocals).
Whether you think her performance was iconic or robotic, it was a fitting start to the evening.
Demi Lovato wore gender inclusivity on her sleeve
Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas cancelled their tour date in North Carolina to protest the state's anti-LGBT "bathroom ban" back in April. And on Sunday night, Lovato continued speaking out in support of transgender rights.
During her performance of her 2015 hit Cool for the Summer, which winks at sexual fluidity, Lovato wore a bedazzled black shirt with the gender inclusivity symbol, depicting half a man and half a woman.
And we couldn't help but notice the stage's backdrop looked awfully similar to yellow and black bathroom tiles. Coincidence?
Kesha returned to TV with a moving Bob Dylan cover
After a public back-and-forth with her former producer Dr. Luke (who she's currently engaged with in a messy court battle) about her scheduled BBMAs performance, Kesha returned to TV Sunday with an understated, moving cover of Bob Dylan's classic It Ain't Me, Babe at the BBMAs.
Last week, Luke and his label Kemosabe Records nixed Kesha's previously-announced BBMAs appearance after rumors circulated that she'd protest their court battles in her performance. But after Kesha — and most of the internet — spoke out against the cancellation, she appeared onstage Sunday night alongside Ben Folds, who covered the song with Kesha in a performance last week.
And true to her word, Kesha kept it simple, letting Dylan's powerful lyrics do the talking.
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton were crazy in love in their duet
Gwen and Blake won't be breaking each other's hearts anytime soon, if their BBMAs performance of their duet Go Ahead and Break My Heart is any indication.
The two Voice judges have proven to be masters of keeping their modern fairytale of a celebrity relationship in the headlines. And their appearance Sunday night was classic Blake-and-Gwen, as Shelton strummed his guitar while making unflinching eye contact with Stefani, who looked impeccably glam in a sparkling, semi-sheer gown.
Adele dropped her new video
After teasing stills from her new Send My Love (To Your New Lover) video last week, the singer — who took home the night's biggest award, Top Artist — premiered the full version during the awards.
The new clip for Send My Love, which USA TODAY named one of our favorite songs of 2015, pairs Adele's acrobatic vocals with a simple black backdrop, where she sways in double-vision wearing an incredible floral gown.
Watch it here:
Celine Dion delivered a powerful performance and tearful speech
Four months after losing her husband Rene Angelil and her brother Daniel Dion to cancer, Dion made her live TV comeback on Sunday night to accept the BBMAs Icon Award.
And her moving performance and speech proved she more than deserved the title, delivering a rousing take on Queen's The Show Must Go On before her son Rene Charles Angelil came on stage to hand her the trophy, moving her to tears.
"I want to be so strong for my family and my kids and I didn’t expect that," she said, holding her son's hand as she thanked her fans, her family and her late husband Rene, "who will continue to watch over from me from up above."
Madonna, Stevie Wonder and The Weeknd remembered Prince
From the first awards speech, the night was dedicated to Prince, as The Weeknd choked up dedicating his BBMAs win to the late star. And closing out the evening was Madonna, who paid tribute to her longtime friend with help from a very special guest.
Entering solo on a velvet purple throne clad in a lavender paisley suit, she began with a drum machine-assisted take on Nothing Compares 2 U, with somber footage projected on the background. After a touch-and-go start, she was joined by Stevie Wonder for an all-star take on Purple Rain.
And then, Rihanna dabbed in the audience, and all was right in the world.
