2015 Billboard Music Awards

    Even if she hadn't premiered her epic, star-studded "Bad Blood" music video at the top of the show, Taylor Swift still would have been the big winner of the 2015 Billboard Music Awards.

Billboard Music Awards 2015: All Our Coverage

Taking home eight awards -- including top artist, top Billboard 200 artist, top Hot 100 artist and top streaming song -- Swift took home the most trophies, followed by Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea and Pharrell, who each won three awards, as well as One Direction, Hozier, Jason Aldean, Enrique Iglesias and John Legend, each of whom won two. The awards were hosted by Chrissy Teigen and Ludacris, produced by dick clark productions and aired live on ABC from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Swift was also seemingly the night's most popular attendee. Flying in that day from her brother Austin's college graduation at Notre Dame, Swift was accompanied by the majority of her "Bad Blood" co-stars throughout the night and flanked in her audience seat by presumed boyfriend Calvin Harris, with whom she shared several touching embraces throughout the night.

During her acceptance speech for top female artist, Swift thanked "all the girls I talk to on the Internet and we talk about your feelings and you teach me your teen slang." And later, upon receiving the fan-voted chart achievement award, she added, "Honestly, the fans -- I'm obsessed with you. You guys are the reason this year has happened the way that it's happened."

Two-time winners One Direction (top duo/group, top touring artist) were equally heartfelt in a pair of speeches, shouting out their devoted Directioners as well as "our brother Zayn Malik," as the band's Liam Payne said during 1D's acceptance of top duo/group.

And Smith, whose recent vocal hemorrhage led him to pull out of the ceremony, mutely accepted his award for top male artist via video with very British, Love Actually-esque cue cards. "First, thank you Billboard for this incredible honour," Smith wrote. "Secondly, thank you to my amazing fans. It's time like this that I realize how lucky I am to have you in my life. Can't wait to get this surgery out of the way so I can sing my ass off for you again. And lastly, seeing as you guys are in Vegas. Taylor...put a 100 on black for me. Nicki...Oh...My...God..Look at her bum. Ed [Sheeran]...I've organized a special dance for you at...Chippendale's."

Billboard Music Awards 2015 Red-Carpet Photos

Equally memorable performances were in full effect too. An octave-leaping "Vision of Love/Infinity" medley from Mariah Carey, the TV debut of Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea's "Pretty Girls," a new single from Kelly Clarkson and an exclusive duet of Little Big Town's "Girl Crush" with special guest Faith Hill brought major diva heat. Tori Kelly played rising single "Nobody Love" as Kia's One to Watch artist, while Meghan Trainor's cute duet with John Legend on Title cut "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" drew praise and a slight jab from Legend's wife, BBMA co-host Teigen. "Whoa, you guys had a little chemistry up there. Not bad, right? Little jealous," said Teigen, whose hubby later assured her, "I like bass and treble, baby."

Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa's special team-up on "Uma Thurman," a reunited Van Halen, a blues-y Hozier, a moving Ben E. King tribute from Imagine Dragons and a stadium-sized, hologram-enhanced performance by Ed Sheeran repped for rock. Molly Ringwald introduced Simple Minds for a 30th anniversary tribute to The Breakfast Club, but not before sending out a quick plea to Swift: "I wanna be in your club Taylor, please!" As a camera cut to Ringwald seemingly swapping numbers with Swift (on sponsor Samsung's phones, no less) after "Don't You Forget About Me"'s final "hey hey hey HEY!," it looked like the artist formerly known as Claire Standish quickly got her wish.

2015 Billboard Music Awards: 10 Best Performances

For hip-hop heads, Khalifa, Charlie Puth and Lindsey Stirling formed a BBMA supergroup on Hot 100 topper "See You Again," while Pitbull and Chris Brown brought Miami heat to "Fun" and Nicki Minaj teased new single "The Night Is Still Young" before bringing out David Guetta for their latest hit "Hey Mama." For R&B enthusiasts, a laser-lit Nick Jonas slayed "Jealous," while "Empire" star Jussie Smollett and Estelle teamed up for standout ballad "Conqueror," while the show's Bryshere "Yazz" Gray joined them for his fan favorite "You're So Beautiful."

Kanye West handled finale duties, with an explosive -- literally -- take on current single "All Day" that was often more bleeped and obscured by pyro flames and smoke than it was intelligible. But he concluded with a victory lap performance of 2013's "Black Skinhead," which gave extra emphasis to the lines "I ain't finished/ I'm devoted/ And you know it/ And you know it!" in light of his imminent (and recently re-titled) album Swish.(CNN)TOP ARTIST

Ariana Grande
One Direction
Katy Perry
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift -- WINNER

TOP COUNTRY ARTIST
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line -- WINNER
Brantley Gilbert
Blake Shelton

BILLBOARD CHART ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PRESENTED BY SAMSUNG GALAXY (FAN-VOTED)
Iggy Azalea
Taylor Swift -- WINNER
Meghan Trainor

TOP TOURING ARTIST
Lady Gaga
One Direction -- WINNER
Katy Perry
The Rolling Stones
Justin Timberlake

TOP FEMALE ARTIST
Iggy Azalea
Ariana Grande
Katy Perry
Taylor Swift -- WINNER
Meghan Trainor

TOP RADIO SONG
John Legend, "All of Me" -- WINNER
MAGIC!, "Rude"
Nico & Vinz, "Am I Wrong"
Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"
Pharrell Williams, "Happy

TOP MALE ARTIST
Drake
Pharrell Williams
Ed Sheeran
Sam Smith -- WINNER
​Justin Timberlake

TOP RAP SONG
Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX, "Fancy" -- WINNER
Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora, "Black Widow"
Big Sean feat. E-40, "I Don't F--- With You"
Nicki Minaj, "Anaconda"
Bobby Shmurda, "Hot Boy"

TOP BILLBOARD 200 ALBUM
Maroon 5, V
Pentatonix, That's Christmas to Me
Ed Sheeran, x
Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour
Taylor Swift, 1989  -- WINNER

TOP DUO/GROUP
5 Seconds of Summer
Florida Georgia Line
MAGIC!
Maroon 5
One Direction  -- WINNER

TOP NEW ARTIST
5 Seconds of Summer
Iggy Azalea
Hozier
Sam Smith -- WINNER
​Meghan Trainor

TOP BILLBOARD 200 ARTIST
One Direction
Pentatonix
Ed Sheeran
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift -- WINNER

TOP HOT 100 ARTIST
Iggy Azalea
Ariana Grande
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift -- WINNER
Meghan Trainor

TOP DIGITAL SONGS ARTIST
Iggy Azalea
Ed Sheeran
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift -- WINNER
Meghan Trainor

TOP RADIO SONGS ARTIST
John Legend
Maroon 5
Ed Sheeran
Sam Smith -- WINNER
Taylor Swift

TOP SOCIAL ARTIST
Justin Bieber -- WINNER
Miley Cyrus
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Taylor Swift

TOP STREAMING ARTIST
Iggy Azalea -- WINNER
Ariana Grande
Nicki Minaj
Taylor Swift
Meghan Trainor

TOP R&B ARTIST
Beyoncé
Chris Brown
John Legend
Trey Songz
Pharrell Williams -- WINNER

TOP RAP ARTIST
Iggy Azalea -- WINNER
J. Cole
Drake
Nicki Minaj
Rae Sremmurd

TOP ROCK ARTIST
Bastille
Coldplay
Fall Out Boy
Hozier -- WINNER
Lorde

TOP LATIN ARTIST
J Balvin
Juan Gabriel
Enrique Iglesias
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos -- WINNER

TOP DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST
Avicii
Clean Bandit
Disclosure
Calvin Harris -- WINNER
Lindsey Stirling

TOP CHRISTIAN ARTIST
Casting Crowns
Hillsong United -- WINNER
Lecrae
MercyMe
Newsboys

TOP SOUNDTRACK
The Fault in Our Stars
Fifty Shades of Grey
Frozen -- WINNER
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix: Vol. 1
Into the Woods

TOP R&B ALBUM
Beyoncé, Beyoncé
Chris Brown, X
Michael Jackson, Xscape
John Legend, Love in the Future
Pharrell Williams, G I R L -- WINNER

TOP RAP ALBUM
J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive -- WINNER
Drake, If You're Reading This It's Too Late
Nicki Minaj, The Pinkprint
Iggy Azalea, The New Classic
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2

TOP COUNTRY ALBUM
Jason Aldean, Old Boots, New Dirt -- WINNER
Garth Brooks, Man Against Machine
Luke Bryan, Crash My Party
Brantley Gilbert, Just As I Am
Miranda Lambert, Platinum

TOP ROCK ALBUM
AC/DC, Rock or Bust
The Black Keys, Turn Blue
Coldplay, Ghost Stories -- WINNER
Hozier, Hozier
Lorde, Pure Heroine

TOP LATIN ALBUM
Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Enrique Iglesias, Sex and Love -- WINNER
Romeo Santos, Formula: Vol. 2
Santana, Corazon
Marc Anthony, 3.0

TOP DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Avicii, True
Disclosure, Settle
Calvin Harris, Motion
Skrillex, Recess
Lindsey Stirling, Shatter Me -- WINNER

TOP CHRISTIAN ALBUM
Lecrae, Anomaly -- WINNER
Casting Crowns, Thrive
MercyMe, Welcome to the New
NEEDTOBREATHE, Rivers in the Wasteland
Chris Tomlin, Love Ran Red

TOP HOT 100 SONG
Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX, "Fancy"
John Legend, "All of Me"
Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"
Taylor Swift, "Shake It Off"
Meghan Trainor, "All About That Bass" -- WINNER

TOP DIGITAL SONG
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk!"
Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"
Taylor Swift, "Shake It Off"
Meghan Trainor, "All About That Bass" -- WINNER
Pharrell Williams, "Happy

TOP STREAMING SONG (AUDIO)
Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX, "Fancy"
Hozier, "Take Me to Church"
John Legend, "All of Me" -- WINNER
Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"
Tove Lo, "Habits (Stay High)"

TOP STREAMING SONG (VIDEO)
Idina Menzel, "Let It Go"
Bobby Shmurda, "Hot Boy"
Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"
Taylor Swift, "Shake It Off" -- WINNER
Meghan Trainor, "All About That Bass"

TOP R&B SONG
Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne, French Montana, Too $hort & Tyga, "Loyal"
Jason Derulo feat. 2 Chainz, "Talk Dirty"
Jeremih feat. YG, "Don't Tell 'Em"
John Legend, "All of Me"
Pharrell Williams, "Happy" -- WINNER

TOP COUNTRY SONG
Jason Aldean, "Burnin' It Down" -- WINNER
Luke Bryan, "Play It Again"
Sam Hunt, "Leave the Night On"
Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan, "This Is How We Roll"
Florida Georgia Line, "Dirt"

TOP ROCK SONG
Bastille, "Pompeii"
Coldplay, "A Sky Full of Stars"
Fall Out Boy, "Centuries"
Hozier, "Take Me to Church" -- WINNER
Paramore, "Ain't It Fun"

TOP LATIN SONG
J Balvin feat. Farruko, "6 AM"
Enrique Iglesias feat. Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona, "Bailando" -- WINNER
Romeo Santos, "Eres Mía"
Romeo Santos feat. Drake, "Odio"
Romeo Santos, "Propuesta Indecente"

TOP DANCE/ELECTRONIC SONG
Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne, "Rather Be"
Disclosure feat. Sam Smith, "Latch"
DJ Snake & Lil Jon, "Turn Down For What" -- WINNER
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd, "Break Free"
Calvin Harris, "Summer"

TOP CHRISTIAN SONG
Francesca Battistelli, "He Knows My Name"
Hillsong United, "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
MercyMe, "Greater"
Newsboys, "We Believe"
Carrie Underwood, "Something in the Water" -- WINNER