Drake wins big at Billboard Music Awards 2019

2 May 2019

Drake was the big winner at the Billboard Music Awards 2019, taking home 12 gongs.

Drake at the Billboard Music Awards 2019

The 32-year-old star took home the Top Artist and Top Rap Artist prizes among his huge haul, which now means he is the most decorated artist in Billboard Music Awards history, at the ceremony at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday night (01.05.19).

He took to the stage to collect the Top Billboard 200 Album accolade for 'Scorpion', and gave a shout out to 'Game of Thrones' character Arya Stark - played by Maisie Williams - after she defeated the evil Night King in the epic Battle of Winterfell on Sunday's (28.04.19) episode of the HBO fantasy show.

He said: "Thank you to everybody who gave me their time, their energy, stayed away from their family and friends while we were trying to complete this.

"I always had a dream of doing a double album and I finally did it so now I'll never do it again.

"Hey, shout-out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week."

Drake beat off competition from Card B - who led the nominees with 21 nods - in the Top Artist category as well as Ariana Grande, Post Malone and Travis Scott.

Cardi also landed a big haul on the night, taking home six accolades including Top Rap Female Artist and Top Collaboration for her 'Girls Like You' hit with Maroon 5.

But she lost out to Ariana in the Top Female Artist category, which Halsey, Ella Mai and Taylor Swift were also nominated for.

Cardi took to the stage to accept the Best Rap Song prize for her song 'I Like It' with J Balvin and Bad Bunny, but her speech almost got cut short due to such big applause from the audience.

Speaking to the crowd, she joked: "Wait a minute. Let me finish my speech, goddamn it.

"I know y'all love me. If you got a favourite artist, support them. Stream their music. Listen to their music.

"Tell a friend to tell a friend about their music to get them on the chart, an upcoming artist or artists that's already out there. Support their music.

"Be the biggest fan that you can be."

Maroon 5 scored four award wins at the ceremony - which was hosted by Kelly Clarkson - while Ella, Ozuna, Luke Combs and Lauren Daigle each won a hat-trick of prizes.

Ella, 24, defeated H.E.R., Khalid, The Weeknd and XXXTentacion to win Top R&B Artist.

Taylor Swift returned to the spectacle to perform her new single 'ME!', which was her first performance at the event since 2013, and Madonna, Paula Abdul, and Jonas Brothers were among the other performers.

Billboard Music Awards 2019 Winners:

Top Artist:

Drake