The 2021 Billboard Music Awards were hosted by Nick Jonas Sunday night, and aired live from the Microsoft Theater in L.A. on NBC. Because this is 2021 and we’re just emerging from a rampaging pandemic, the festivities were a little different this year. Still, they were several bedazzled steps up from last year, and featured a mix of remote and in-person performances.
This time around, the party got started courtesy of an energetic performance from DJ Khaled. Jonas then welcomed the audience, celebrating the fact that “we are all back together again” with COVID precautions in place.
Going in, The Weeknd was a finalist in 16 categories, including Top Artist, with DaBaby following in 11 categories, including as a multi-finalist in the Top Streaming Song category for “Rockstar” and “Whats Poppin.” The late Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD were up for posthumous nods.