2015 Billboard Music Awards: guide

The 2015 Billboard Music Awards can be seen on [V] Live on Monday morning with performances by Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Kelly Clarkson, Hozier, Nick Jonas, Van Halen, Empire‘s Jussie Smollett and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray, Britney Spears, Iggy Azalea, Meghan Trainor, John Legend and a Breakfast Club tribute from Simple Minds.

Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
Hosts: Chrissy Teigen and actor Ludacris

Taylor Swift, a seven-time Grammy winner, will open the 2015 Billboard Music Awards with the world premiere of the most-highly anticipated new music video for “Bad Blood.” The never-before-seen video includes multiple starring roles played by a cast of Golden Globe winners, Emmy winners, Grammy winners, an Oscar nominee, blockbuster movie stars, as well as both new and iconic supermodels, and was directed by Joseph Kahn.

Superstar Kanye West will close this year’s Billboard Music Awards. Recognised worldwide as one of the great live performers of his generation, this will mark Kanye’s first ever performance on the BBMA stage. Kanye West has sold over 32 million albums and over 85 million digital tracks worldwide. Over the course of his legendary career, he has had six consecutive #1 albums and seven #1 singles, along with scores of radio hits and millions of concert tickets sold worldwide. West has garnered 57 Grammy nominations and has won 21 Grammys, along with numerous other awards and accolades.

The band Simple Minds will perform their hit single “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from the 1985 movie The Breakfast Club at this year’s Billboard Music Awards, which also coincides with the 30th Anniversary of the iconic song reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band will be introduced to the stage by the film’s star Molly Ringwald.

Fourteen-time Billboard Music Award winner and global superstar Mariah Carey will perform on this year’s award show. Not only does Mariah Carey boast the most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s – 18 of any solo artist in the chart’s 56-year history – she also has the longest-running No. 1 single in Hot 100 history “One Sweet Day” (16 weeks at No. 1). In addition, she’s earned 17 Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart (six of which reached No. 1), 17 No. 1 Dance Club Songs, and 10 No. 1 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Duet performances by Nicki Minaj featuring David Guetta, Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth and Lindsey Stirling, and a special tribute performance by Imagine Dragons, have been added to the line-up. Nicki Minaj will perform her new single “The Night Is Still Young” and Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs No. 1 hit “Hey Mama,” featuring David Guetta, while Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth are set to sing their hit “See You Again” from the “Fast and Furious 7” soundtrack. Imagine Dragons will perform “Stand By Me” in tribute to the soul and R&B legend, Ben E. King, who passed away earlier this year.

New music act Tori Kelly will also perform as “Kia’s One To Watch” on the 2015 Billboard Music Awards singing her new hit “Nobody Love”.

A mix of television, music and film stars slated to present on the 2015 Billboard Music Awards include the cast of Entourage (Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, and Adrian Grenier), Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, 10-time Billboard Music Award winner 50 Cent, Charli XCX, 2015 Billboard Music Awards finalist Rita Ora, six-time Billboard Music Award winner Celine Dion, Laverne Cox, Danica McKellar, Idina Menzel, Pentatonix, Tracee Ellis Ross, Prince Royce, Kaitlyn Bristowe and Britt Nilsson from ABC’s The Bachelorette, Taraji P. Henson, Lily Aldridge, Hannah Davis, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev, 2012 Billboard Music Award winner NE-YO, and Ellen Pompeo.

Previously announced musical performers confirmed to play at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards include Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Kelly Clarkson, Hozier, Nick Jonas, Van Halen, along with special duet performances by “Empire” recording artists Jussie Smollett and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray with Estelle, Fall Out Boy featuring Wiz Khalifa, Little Big Town and Faith Hill, Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea, and Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend.

Broadcast:
Live on Channel [V] from 10am on Monday May 18
Repeated Monday May 18 at 4pm and 7pm on Channel [V].