That was something else! There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during Sunday, May 22’s Billboard Music Awards 2016.
Whether it was Celine Dion‘s emotional acceptance speech or Madonna and Stevie Wonder‘s purple tribute to Prince, emotions were high at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. And amid the sea of meaningful moments was a high-octane performance from Britney Spears and a video sneak peek from Adele. Check out the top six show highlights below.
1. Madonna Brings Down the House With Prince Tribute
He’ll reign in purple forever! Madonna performed a moving tribute to her late friend and fellow music icon Prince, wearing a sparkling lilac baroque-inspired pantsuit and sitting on a plush purple throne. Cane in hand, the Queen of Pop belted out “Nothing Compares 2 U” before a surprise appearance by Stevie Wonder, who joined Madonna for a touching rendition of Prince’s iconic song “Purple Rain.”
2) Celine Dion Has Everyone in Tears With Emotional Acceptance Speech
Our hearts go out to this duo. Celine Dion brought Us to tears as she broke down on stage accepting her Icon Award for lifetime achievement from her 15-year-old son, René-Charles. The French-Canadian singer, 48, cried as she hugged her son and spoke of trying to stay strong for her children in the aftermath of the death of her husband, René Angélil.
3) Adele Debuts ‘Send My Love (to Your New Lover)’ Music Video
A sneak peek! Music fans got an extra treat when Adele’s new music video for “Send My Love (to Your New Lover)” debuted during the show. The British powerhouse, 28, took home a win for Top Billboard 200 Album on Sunday night and in exchange, she gifted fans with the first viewing of her Patrick Daughters–directed video.
4) Britney Wows With Awesome Opening Medley
It’s Britney, bitch! Britney Spears lit up the stage with an epic medley of some of her greatest hits, as well as a few deep cuts from her 2003 album In the Zone. The 34-year-old looked sensational in a slew of skin-baring ensembles by Mark Zunino, showing off her amazing body and proving to the world she’s still got it!
5) Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Parade Their Love During Duet
So adorable! Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani made sure their performance of “Go Ahead and Break My Heart” was a heart-stopper! The country hunk, 39, and his rocker love, 46, had eyes only for each other as they performed their duet — and Stefani looked stunning in her sparkly dress, ditching her trademark red lips for a more toned down, natural look.
6) Kesha Bounces Back From Dr. Luke Ban
They can’t keep her down! Kesha, 29, received a standing ovation for her beautiful performance of Bob Dylan’s 1964 song “It Ain’t Me Babe” (her performance was initially canceled by her producer, Dr. Luke, and her label, Kemosabe Records, for fear she would use her time on stage to address her ongoing legal battle). Instead, the “TiK ToK” singer let her music do the talking, and fans showed their support by getting to their feet.
Check out some of the top moments in the videos above.
