Taylor Swift was a major winner as she earned 10 golden microphones including highest honor Top Artist but was outdone by controversial country star Morgan Wallen who earned 11 at the new version 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday.
The 33-year-old pop megastar – who is currently in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on her Eras Tour – sent in a video message as she accepted several trophies.
She said: ‘Well, this is unreal. This is the fact, that you guys have given me ten Billboard Awards, I’m talking to the fans specifically, none of this happens without you. Billboards base everything off of what you are listening to, and what you’re passionate about and I’m so honored that this year you made the tour, the era’s tour, so magical.
‘You went and saw the movie, you cared about my recordings. I just like, I love you so much. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have you in my corner and caring about the music that I make. So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you 10 million times, for this.’
She was the most awarded female of the night and her 10 wins tied Drake’s record to be the most-awarded artist in Billboard Music Awards history.
Taylor Swift was a major winner as she earned 10 golden microphones including highest honor Top Artist
The girlfriend of NFL star Travis Kelce was also outdone by Morgan Wallen who earned 11 awards two years after he was caught on tape using a racial slur.
Meanwhile, Mariah Carey was presented with a special honor by her twin children Moroccan and Monroe, 12.
The 54-year-old pop megastar earned the Chart Achievement Award for her holiday classic All I Want For Christmas.
The song – which was recorded in 1994 – is the first song to lead Hot 100 charts across five distinct years and the only song to rain in more than two individual years.
Mariah’s two preteen children donned winterwear as they walked on stage to hand their mother the vintage golden microphone trophy.
She made sure to recognize them first during her acceptance speech as she said: ‘Thank you babies. Thank you. Thank you so much. I couldn’t ask for better presenters than Roc and Roe. Thank you guys.
Aww: Mariah Carey was presented with a special honor by her twin children Moroccan and Monroe, 12, at the new version 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday
‘Alright well, I just want to say Billboard has been an integral part of my life for a very long time now. Even though I don’t acknowledge time, I kind of have to admit that some of my most memorable times in my career are connected to Billboard and the BBMAs.
‘One thing I really have to say is that I’m so grateful for the fact that my fans have been here with me through the hits, the misses, the No. 1 and the bubbling unders. I love you so much.’
As Mariah has placed No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart in a record 19 distinct years she made sure to talk about the impact the song has had on her life and career.
She explained: ‘This award is particularly special to me because the song itself changed my entire life. When I first sat down to write All I Want For Christmas Is You.
‘I never could have imagined that I would be standing here three months later accepting a special award for it okay, so I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s allowed this song to be part of their holiday soundtrack each year. I’m so honored to be receiving this award for this little songs chart achievements but the greatest achievement for me is being here with all of you and feeling the love that only music can generate. Thank you so much!’
Meanwhile, Karol G took home the first awards of the night in the Top Latin Female Artist and Latin Touring Artist categories.
The 32-year-old Columbian singer-songwriter took to the podium to accept her two shiny new vintage microphone trophies.
In the Top Latin Female Artist category she beat out international heavy-hitters ROSALÍA and Shakira while she won out over RBD and Daddy Yankee in the Latin Touring Artist category.
She made sure to recognize them first during her acceptance speech as she said: ‘Thank you babies. Thank you. Thank you so much. I couldn’t ask for better presenters than Roc and Roe. Thank you guys’
Record breaker: The song – which was recorded in 1994 – is the first song to lead Hot 100 charts across five distinct years and the only song to rain in more than two individual years
Wonder in white: She proudly showed off her new hardware in the pressroom
She addressed her fans as she said (in Spanish): ‘I’m very excited. I have to say that I’m a little more nervous than usual. We’re very close to each other. And I like that, but it’s the first time I have accepted an award this close to y’all.
‘It’s very exciting being able to share this moment, like another whole lot of moments we have shared, this is very special.’
She continued by saying she was happy to accept not one, but two awards including that her Mañana Será Bonito Tour is the ‘baddest’ Latin tour.
Karol – born – Carolina Giraldo Navarro said: ‘I think this is a great opportunity to be grateful because these awards mean the connection is there between all of you and me.
‘I think you’re more than fans — you’re part of the team and this family. Ya’ll know we have a very special connection, even though we don’t know each other or we don’t see each other. A lot of things connect us through the music.
She went on to thank the people involved in her recent tour and even hinted at her new relationship with musical artist Feid.
She said: ‘I want to thank all the people that were part of the tour. It was one of the most extraordinary things that happened to me this year. In addition to the album I released, that was very special, very intimate, you know the reasons why.
‘So, I’m very happy, very grateful. I don’t know if any of you were on the tour? You see? We’re just that close. The point is, thank you very much for giving me that love.’
Double trouble: Karol G took home the first awards of the night in the Top Latin Female Artist and Latin Touring Artist categories at the new version 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday
Golden girl: The 32-year-old Columbian singer-songwriter took to the podium to accept her two shiny new vintage microphone trophies
Wow factor: She later took to the press room to pose with her new gongs
Meanwhile Bebe Rexha and David Guetta were also big winners as they accepted the Top Dance/ Electronic Song Award for their hit track I’m Good (Blue).
The two hitmakers beat out Bizarrap & Shakira, Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53, Elton John & Britney Spears, Hold Me Closer, Tiësto ft. Tate McRae, 10:35, and even David Guetta himself for his collaboration with Anne-Marie & Coi Leray titled Baby Don’t Hurt Me.
The 34-year-old Brooklyn, New York native – born Bleta Rexha – took to the podium to address her fans as she said: ‘Thank you guys I want to say thank you so much to Billboard. Thank you to my fans, c’mon Rexhars stand up Rexhars! Let’s go!
‘I want to thank my entire team, my label, it has been such an incredible journey when David Guetta, who I have done I’m Good with of course. We did it in 2017 and we didn’t think it was going to become such a worldwide anthem, you know, we wanted to flip a fun song from back in the day and just make it feel good.
‘I just can’t believe how far this song has gone. 52 weeks at number one okay. And I grew up watching Billboard and to be here right now like it is such an awesome full circle moment. I just want to say thank you so much! Over to you Guetta, let’s go.’
Iconic French dance music producer and DJ Guetta, 56, then accepted the honor from a different location as he said: ‘Thank you so, so much. This is incredible. Bebe, I love you, thank you for being part of my life. I think we bring luck to each other.
‘I am so proud of you. I saw you starting as a songwriter and to being a superstar right now.’
He went on to thank the music industry trade publication.
She addressed her fans as she said (in Spanish): ‘I’m very excited. I have to say that I’m a little more nervous than usual. We’re very close to each other. And I like that, but it’s the first time I have accepted an award this close to y’all. It’s very exciting being able to share this moment, like another whole lot of moments we have shared, this is very special’
Proud: She continued by saying she was happy to accept not one, but two awards including that her Mañana Será Bonito Tour is the ‘baddest’ Latin tour
She went on to thank the people involved in her recent tour and even hinted at her new relationship with musical artist Feid as she said: ‘I want to thank all the people that were part of the tour. It was one of the most extraordinary things that happened to me this year. In addition to the album I released, that was very special, very intimate, you know the reasons why’
Guetta continued: ‘Billboard, I have been reading Billboard my entire life. So this makes me very proud, 52 weeks number one, it’s just unbelievable. Love you guys!’
The annual event which celebrates the music charts took on a drastically different format this year which featured music performances and winner acceptance speech posted via Billboard’s website and social media channels.
Taylor Swift led the nominations with a whopping 20 nods, after already winning a stunning 29 Billboard Music Awards in the past, making her the top female winner.
Swift will also be within striking distance of Drake, who tops all winners with 34 Billboard Music Awards. He has 14 nominations this year.
The rapper also holds the record for most wins in a single night with 13 from the 2017 show, but Taylor could be poised to break that record as well, though Drake could also technically top his own record if he won every category he was nominated in.
Mariah Carey will also be ushering in the holidays with a performance of her perennial wintertime hit All I Want For Christmas Is You, which will be her first time singing the tune at an awards show.
The 2023 version of the Billboard Music Awards will forgo its usual television broadcast in place of a more disjointed ceremony that exists completely online.
Viewers can check out the awards ceremony in its entirety at Billboard’s website for it, BBMAs.watch, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Golden: Meanwhile Bebe Rexha and David Guetta were also big winners as they accepted the Top Dance/ Electronic Song Award for their hit track I’m Good
The 34-year-old Brooklyn, New York native – born Bleta Rexha – took to the podium to address her fans as she said: ‘Thank you guys I want to say thank you so much to Billboard. Thank you to my fans, c’mon Rexhars stand up Rexhars! Let’s go!’
But fans can also catch individual performances and acceptance speeches on Billboard’s social media accounts.
The show no longer has any television broadcast partner.
By downplaying a traditional ceremony, the new format will allow artists to hold performances across the globe.
Unlike other award shows, which have voters choosing winners based on quality and their subjective tastes, the BBMAs are ‘data driven’ and ‘chosen solely based on how well they perform on the Billboard charts, tracking album and digital song sales, radio airplay, as well as streaming and social engagement to choose the winner of each category,’ according to the publication.
Billboard also announced a partnership with Spotify to award ‘golden tickets’ to lucky fans to allow them to travel to the location of their chosen artist’s performance during the show.
In addition to Carey, other artists scheduled to sing their hits at the 2023 BBMAs include David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, KAROL G, NewJeans, Peso Pluma, Stray Kids and the controversial country artist Morgan Wallen.
Wallen was temporarily banned from some radio stations due to his racist behavior after he was caught on camera in 2021 drunkenly shouting at someone and calling them the n-word.
Wallen is tied for the second-most nominations with SZA at 17.
SZA was also the recipient of the most nominations for the upcoming Grammy Awards.
The Weeknd received the next most nominations with 16, while Drake and Zach Bryan are tied with 14 nominations.
Luke Combs, who scored a surprise hit with his cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast car, earned 10 nominations, while 21 Savage, Metro Boomin and Miley Cyrus are tied with nine each.
Beyoncé and Rema both received seven nods, while Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma are in the running for six awards.
Ariana Grande, David Guetta, Eslabon Armado, Karol G, NewJeans and Selena Gomez each received five nominations.
The Billboard Music Awards will be expanding its reach this year with nine new awards.
Two of the major new awards include Hot 100 songwriter and top Hot 100 producer, with Taylor Swift being nominated in the former while her regular collaborator Jack Antonoff is nominated for the latter category.
Rock artists will also benefit with a new category for the top duo/group in the genre.
Four new categories are devoted to the massively popular K-pop genre: top global K-pop artist, top K-pop tour, top K-pop album and top global K-pop song.
Two others will honor the top Afrobeats artist and top Afrobeats song as the genre has seen a global surge in popularity.
Awards elibility for the BBMAs was determined this year based on chart performance from November 19, 2022, through Oct. 21, 2023.
2023 Billboard Music Award Winners
Chart Achievement Award
Mariah Carey
Sweet: Mariah Carey was presented with a special honor by her twin children Morrocan and Monroe, 12, at the event
Top Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Top New Artist
Bailey Zimmerman
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Peso Pluma
Zach Bryan
Top Male Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Zach Bryan
Top Female Artist
Beyoncé
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
Eslabon Armado
Fifty Fifty
Fuerza Regida – WINNER
Grupo Frontera
Metallica
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Songwriter
Ashley Gorley
Jack Antonoff
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Hot 100 Producer
Jack Antonoff
Joey Moi – WINNER
Metro Boomin
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Drake
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Radio Songs Artist
Miley Cyrus
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
Jason Aldean
Miley Cyrus
Morgan Wallen
Oliver Anthony Music
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
Bad Bunny
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist
Bad Bunny
Ed Sheeran
NewJeans
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Chris Brown
Rihanna
SZA – WINNER
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
Chris Brown
Miguel
The Weeknd – WINNER
Top R&B Female Artist
Beyonce
Rihanna
SZA – WINNER
Top R&B Touring Artist
Beyoncé – WINNER
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist
21 Savage
Drake – WINNER
Lil Baby
Metro Boomin
Travis Scott
Top Rap Male Artist
21 Savage
Drake – WINNER
Travis Scott
Top Rap Female Artist
Doja Cat
Ice Spice
Nicki Minaj – WINNER
Top Rap Touring Artist
50 Cent
Drake – WINNER
Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa
Top Country Artist
Bailey Zimmerman
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Country Male Artist
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Zach Bryan
Top Country Female Artist
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group
Old Dominion
Parmalee
Zac Brown Band – WINNER
Top Country Touring Artist
George Strait
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Top Rock Artist
Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Stephen Sanchez
Steve Lacy
Zach Bryan – WINNER
Top Rock Duo/Group
Arctic Monkeys – WINNER
Foo Fighters
Metallica
Top Rock Touring Artist
Coldplay – WINNER
Depeche Mode
Elton John
Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny – WINNER
Eslabon Armado
Fuerza Regida
KAROL G
Peso Pluma
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny – WINNER
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Top Latin Female Artist
KAROL G – WINNER
ROSALÍA
Shakira
Double trouble: Karol G won two including Top Latin Female Artist
Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabon Armado
Fuerza Regida – WINNER
Grupo Frontera
Top Latin Touring Artist
Daddy Yankee
Karol G – WINNER
RBD
Top Global K-Pop Artist
Jimin
NewJeans – WINNER
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
TWICE
Top K-Pop Touring Artist
BLACKPINK – WINNER
SUGA
TWICE
Top Afrobeats Artist
Burna Boy – WINNER
Libianca
Rema
Tems
Wizkid
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Beyoncé – WINNER
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Drake
Tiësto
Top Christian Artist
Brandon Lake
Elevation Worship
for KING & COUNTRY
Lauren Daigle – WINNER
Phil Wickham
Top Gospel Artist
CeCe Winans
Elevation Worship
Kanye West – WINNER
Kirk Franklin
Maverick City Music
Top Billboard 200 Album
Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss
Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS
Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
SZA, SOS
Taylor Swift, Midnights
Top Soundtrack
Barbie: The Album – WINNER
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By
ELVIS
Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)
Top Gun: Maverick
Top R&B Album
Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE
Brent Faiyaz, WASTELAND
Drake, Honestly, Nevermind
Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights
SZA, SOS – WINNER
Top Rap Album
Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss – WINNER
Future, I Never Liked You
Lil Baby, It’s Only Me
Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS
Travis Scott, UTOPIA
Top Country Album
Luke Combs, Gettin’ Old
Luke Combs, Growin’ Up
Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak – WINNER
Top Rock Album
HARDY, the mockingbird & THE CROW
Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel
Noah Kahan, Stick Season
Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights
Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak – WINNER
Top Latin Album
Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti – WINNER
Eslabon Armado, DESVELADO
Ivan Cornejo, Dañado
KAROL G, MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO
Peso Pluma, GÉNESIS
Top K-Pop Album
Jimin, FACE
NewJeans, 2nd EP ‘Get Up’
Stray Kids, 5-STAR – WINNER
TOMORROW X TOGETHER, The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION
TWICE, READY TO BE: 12th Mini Album
Top Dance/Electronic Album
Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE – WINNER
Drake, Honestly, Nevermind
ILLENIUM, ILLENIUM
Kim Petras, Feed the Beast
Tiësto, DRIVE
Top Christian Album
Anne Wilson, My Jesus – WINNER
Brandon Lake, House of Miracles
CAIN, Rise Up
Elevation Worship, LION
Lauren Daigle, Lauren Daigle
Top Gospel Album
Jonathan McReynolds, My Truth
Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin, Kingdom Book One – WINNER
Tye Tribbett, All Things New
Whitney Houston, I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
Zacardi Cortez, Imprint (Live in Memphis)
Top Hot 100 Song
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, Creepin’
Miley Cyrus, Flowers
Morgan Wallen, Last Night
SZA, Kill Bill
Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero
Top Streaming Song
Miley Cyrus, Flowers
Morgan Wallen, Last Night
SZA, Kill Bill
Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero
Zach Bryan, Something in the Orange
Top Radio Song
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, Creepin’
Miley Cyrus, Flowers – WINNER
Rema & Selena Gomez, Calm Down
Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, Die for You
Top Selling Song
Jason Aldean, Try That in a Small Town
Jimin, Like Crazy
Miley Cyrus, Flowers
Oliver Anthony Music, Rich Men North of Richmond
Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero
Top Collaboration
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, I’m Good (Blue)
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, Creepin’ – WINNER
Rema & Selena Gomez, Calm Down
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, Unholy
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, Die for You
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, I’m Good (Blue)
Harry Styles, As It Was
Miley Cyrus, Flowers – WINNER
Rema & Selena Gomez, Calm Down
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, Die for You
Top R&B Song
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, Creepin’
Miguel, Sure Thing
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, Die for You
SZA, Kill Bill – WINNER
SZA, Snooze
Top Rap Song
Coi Leray, Players”
Drake & 21 Savage, Rich Flex – WINNER
Gunna, fukumean
Lil Durk ft. J. Cole, All My Life
Toosii, Favorite Song
Top Country Song
Bailey Zimmerman, Rock and a Hard Place
Luke Combs, Fast Car
Morgan Wallen, Last Night
Morgan Wallen, You Proof
Zach Bryan, Something in the Orange
Top Rock Song
Jelly Roll, Need A Favor
Stephen Sanchez, Until I Found You
Steve Lacy, Bad Habit
Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves, I Remember Everything
Zach Bryan, Something in the Orange – WINNER
Top Latin Song
Eslabon Armado x Peso Pluma, Ella Baila Sola – WINNER
Fuerza Regida x Grupo Frontera, Bebe Dame
Grupo Frontera x Bad Bunny, un x100to
KAROL G & Shakira, TQG
Yng Lvcas x Peso Pluma, La Bebe
Top Global K-Pop Song
Fifty Fifty, Cupid
Jimin, Like Crazy
Jungkook ft. Latto, Seven – WINNER
NewJeans, Ditto
NewJeans, OMG
Top Afrobeats Song
Ayra Starr, Rush
Libianca, People
Oxlade, KU LO SA
Rema & Selena Gomez, Calm Down – WINNER
Victony, Rema, & Tempoe ft. Don Toliver, Soweto
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Bizarrap & Shakira, Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53
David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray, Baby Don’t Hurt Me
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, I’m Good (Blue) – WINNER
Elton John & Britney Spears, Hold Me Closer
Tiësto ft. Tate McRae, 10:35
Big moment: David Guetta & Bebe Rexha won Top Dance/Electronic Song for I’m Good (Blue)
Top Christian Song
Brandon Lake, Gratitude – WINNER
Chris Tomlin, Holy Forever
for KING & COUNTRY with Jordin Sparks, Love Me Like I Am
Lauren Daigle, Thank God I Do
Phil Wickham, This Is Our God
Top Gospel Song
CeCe Winans, Goodness of God – WINNER
Crowder & Dante Bowe ft. Maverick City Music, God Really Loves Us
Elevation Worship ft. Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson, More Than Able
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin ft. Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore, Fear is Not My Future
Zacardi Cortez, Lord Do It for Me (Live in Memphis)