Taylor Swift Dominates Billboard Awards, Kanye West Gets Booed
One Direction, which recently downsized to four members, won the night's first award for top duo/group.
By MESFIN FEKADU ••
Taylor Swift dominated the Billboard Music Awards with eight wins, including top artist, while Kanye West was booed during his performance that closed the three-hour event.
Swift also won top Billboard 200 album for "1989" and top female artist Sunday night.
"Oh, this is such a good night!" she said after winning the top prize, besting One Direction, Ariana Grande, Sam Smith and Katy Perry. "Early this morning I watched my brother Austin graduate from Notre Dame ... (and) to anyone who's graduating this year ... this is for you."
"This is kind of a graduation for us," Swift said to the audience of top musicians.
West, however, was booed during his smoky performance of "All Day" and "Black Skinhead."
"And now a doctor," Kylie Jenner said while introducing the rapper, who earned an honorary doctorate from the Art Institute of Chicago last week.
Swift owned the night with wins for top Hot 100 artist and the fan-voted artist achievement award.
Swift kissed her rumored boyfriend Calvin Harris on the cheek and gave him a hug at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Swift, who sat next to the DJ-producer-singer, kicked off the awards by debuting her action-filled music video for "Bad Blood," which stars Selena Gomez and Lena Dunham and showcases Swift as a fighting vixen.
The video opened with Swift and Gomez fighting men in an office and then fighting each other. It ended with Swift's and Gomez's armies going head to head. Other stars in the clip included Mariska Hargitay, Ellen Pompeo, Jessica Alba and Ellie Goulding, and Hayley Williams of Paramore.
"I am so excited I got to show the world," Swift told the audience.
One Direction, which recently downsized to four members, won the night's first award for top duo/group. They also won top touring artist.
"There is one more person to share this with, and that's our brother Zayn," Liam Payne said of Zayn Malik, who left the boy band.
Iggy Azalea won top rap song for "Fancy" as her NBA player boyfriend, Nick Young, watched her with emotion. Azalea also won top streaming artist and rap artist.
Like Azalea, Smith and Pharrell also won three awards — the most after Swift.
Smith, who recently had vocal surgery, didn't attend the show. He wrote his thank you speech on cue cards, which aired via video when he won top male artist.
Van Halen was the night's first performance and rocked the crowd with its 1984 hit "Panama." Mariah Carey sang her first hit, "Vision of Love," which was pitchy. She followed it with new single, "Infinity," where she also struggled. She ended with a strong high note, though.
Britney Spears was energetic when she performed her new single, "Pretty Girls," in a sheer black cat suit alongside Azalea. Swift and Zendaya sang along as Nicki Minaj mainly danced, barely singing or rapping live and relying on a backing track during "Hey Mama" and "The Night Is Still Young."
The Simple Minds performed "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from "The Breakfast Club," which is celebrating 30 years. Molly Ringwald introduced the band and stood next to Swift in the audience while they performed, and the women seemed to exchange numbers.
Meghan Trainor performed a duet with John Legend and won hot 100 song for "All About That Bass." She was teary and shaky onstage, as was her friend and collaborator Charlie Puth, who performed "See You Again" with Wiz Khalifa earlier in the show.
Other performers included Pitbull with Chris Brown and Little Big Town with Faith Hill.
Hosts Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen offered some jokes Sunday night: The rapper described why he's a good host, namechecking his music and acting credits. Teigen, a model, replied, "And I bang a musician" as her husband, John Legend, stood up.
Legend later won top radio song for his No. 1 hit, "All of Me."
"I have to thank, of course, my beautiful co-host, my lovely wife, Chrissy Teigen," he said. "I am so proud that we won this award together tonight."
Actress Mallika Sherawat poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Macbeth at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2015.
Emma Miller poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Macbeth at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2015.
Jury members Sienna Miller, right, and Xavier Dolan pose for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Macbeth at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2015.
From right, Sean Harris, Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender pose for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Macbeth at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2015.
Model Linda Hardy poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film The Little Prince at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 22, 2015.
Sarah Marshall arrives for the screening of the film "Dheepan" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 21, 2015.
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Kendall Jenner poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film "Youth" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 20, 2015.
Jane Fonda and Michael Caine at the screening of the film "Youth" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, Wednesday, May 20, 2015.
Joan Smalls poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film "Youth" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 20, 2015.
Madalina Ghenea at the screening of the film "Youth"
Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder at the screening of the film "Youth"
Rachel Weisz at the sceening of "Youth" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 20, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Rooney Mara, director Todd Haynes and Cate Blanchett depart following the screening of the film "Carol" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Josh Brolin and Emily Blunt pose for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film "Sicario" on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
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Model Doutzen Kroes poses for photographers on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses for photographs for the film "Jazbaa," at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Eva Longoria poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film "Inside Out" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 18, 2015.
Mindy Kaling attends the "Inside Out" premier.
Lily Donaldson at the screening of the film "Inside Out"
Amy Poehler at the screening of the film "Inside Out"
Andie MacDowell poses for photographers at the screening of the film "Inside Out" on Monday, May 18, 2015.
Eva Longoria at the screening of the film "Inside Out."
Natasha Poly poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Carol at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2015.
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Actress Salma Hayek, right, and her husband Francois-Henri Pinault pose for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Carol at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2015.
Eva Longoria poses for photographers upon arrival for the screening of the film Carol at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett pose for photographers at the photo call for the film Carol, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2015.
Director and actor Natalie Portman pose for photographers at the photo call for the film A Tale of Love and Darkness, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 17, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Diane Kruger poses for photographers during the photo call for the screening of the film Maryland (Disorder), at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 16, 2015.
Actors Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts pose for photographers during a photo call for the film The Sea of Trees, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 16, 2015.
Rachel Weisz and Colin Farrell pose for photographers during the photo call of the film The Lobster at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2015.
Virginie Efira attends the Premiere of "Mia Madre" ("My Mother") during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2015 in Cannes, France.
Actress Emma Stone poses for photographers on the red carpet at the screening of the film "Irrational Man" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2015.
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Actress Emma Stone, director Woody Allen and Parker Posey at the screening of the film "Irrational Man" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2015.
Actress Parker Posey at the screening of the film "Irrational Man" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2015.
Melissa George poses for photographers on the red carpet at the screening of the film "Irrational Man" on Friday, May 15, 2015.
Arthur Mola/Invision/AP
Jury member Rossy de Palma at the screening of the film "Irrational Man" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15, 2015.
Sean Penn and Charlize Theron arrives for the screening of "Mad Max: Fury Road" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015.
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Director George Miller, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz and producer Doug Mitchell pose for photographers on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Mad Max: Fury Road" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015.
Sophie Marceau arrives for the screening of the film "Mad Max: Fury Road" on Thursday, May 14, 2015.
Michelle Rodriguez poses for photographers on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Mad Max: Fury Road" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015.
Fan Bing Bing (in a gown by Marchesa) poses for photographers as she arrives for the screening of the film "Mad Max: Fury Road" at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015.
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
John C. Reilly poses for photographers during a photo call for the film "Tale of Tales," at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015.
Salma Hayek poses for photographers during a photo call for the film "Tale of Tales," at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015.
From left, Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult pose for photographers during a photo call for the film "Mad Max : Fury Road," at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 14, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Lupita Nyong'o (in a Gucci gown) arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "La Tete Haute" ("Standing Tall") at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
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Julianne Moore poses for photographers as she arrives for the opening ceremony of the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
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Natalie Portman, right, with husband Benjamin Millepied arrive for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film La Tete Haute (Standing Tall) at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)
From right, actors Sara Forestier, Rod Paradot, director Emmanuelle Bercot, actors Catherine Deneuve and Benoit Magimel pose for photographers as they arrive for the opening ceremony and the screening of their film "La Tete Haute" ("Standing Tall") at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
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Julianne Moore (in a gown by Armani Prive) on the red carpet at the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "La Tete Haute" ("Standing Tall") at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Karlie Kloss (in a gown by Atelier Versace) arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "La Tete Haute" ("Standing Tall") at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Fan Bingbing arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "La Tete Haute" ("Standing Tall") on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
Naomi Watts (in a gown by Elie Saab Couture) at the opening night screening of the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
Jury member and actor Jake Gyllenhaal, right, smiles as he arrives with jury member and singer Rokia Traore for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "La Tete Haute"on May 13, 2015.
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Actress Isabella Rossellini at the screening of the film "La Tete Haute" ("Standing Tall") at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
Arthur Mola/Invision/AP
Jurists Sienna Miller, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rossy de Palma and Sophie Marceau pose for photographers during a photo call for the Jury, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
Legend also won top streaming digital song (audio); other double winners included Trainor, Jason Aldean, Hozier and Enrique Iglesias.
Ludacris offered some words about the late B.B. King and his renowned career while the camera panned to a guitar on an empty stage.
To see the full list of winners, go to Billboard.com.
