“Tonight you’re just getting me,” Kelly Clarkson warned during her opening monologue at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards. She was trying to set expectations for her first-ever awards show hosting job — the kind of job, she pointed out, that usually goes to actors and comedians. But “just” Clarkson turned out to be more than enough; the original American Idol’s unfiltered commentary and enthusiasm for her peers — not to mention a watercooler-worthy medley of the past year’s biggest hits and, later, a high-energy rendition of “Whole Lotta Woman” — provided some welcome levity in a night that had its fair share of heavy moments.
The first one came from Clarkson herself: In a cold open before the official show kick-off, an already-tearful Clarkson spoke about the recent school shooting in Santa Fe and explained that she was asked to lead Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena in a moment of silence. “I’m so sick of moments of silence, it’s not working, obviously,” she said. “Why don’t we do a moment of action? Why don’t we do a moment of change? Why don’t we change what’s happening? Because it’s horrible.” Those are tough words to follow, but it’s hard to think of a more fitting segue than Ariana Grande’s spirited performance of her new single, “No Tears Left to Cry” — a triumphant single about picking up the pieces after tragedy, and also her first new track since the deadly attack at her Manchester concert in 2016. Yet that wasn’t the only performance of the night to reference gun violence: Bebe Rexha also got choked up as she introduced a performance from Shawn Mendes and Khalid, who sang their new duet “Youth” with backing from the choir from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where another mass shooting took place in February.
Some artists used their time in the spotlight to pay tribute to late greats: The Chainsmokers and Halsey remembered Avicii and urged viewers to support those struggling with mental health while presenting an award for Top Hot 100 Song of 2018; the Chainsmokers also dedicated their win for Top Dance/Electronic Artist to Avicii later in the show.
Other artists used their spotlight to make feminist…
