The 2018 Billboard Music Awards are set to be one for the books this year. Celebrating the most chart-worthy songs of the year, the BBMA’s bring today’s hottest stars together for one night, awarding our favorite artists and giving fans the mini-concert of their wildest dreams.
The performances garner just as much talk as the actual awards with artists putting on show-stopping performances that leave the Twitterverse chatting for hours on end. This year, Ariana Grande, Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Camilla Cabello, John Legend, Shawn Mendes and host Kelly Clarkson are just some of the artists slated to perform.
To get us prepared for the history-making performances of this year’s show, let’s take a look at some of the most Iconic BBBMA performances to date.
1. Mariah Carey “I Still Believe” (1998)
Mariah Carey may have established herself as a self-proclaimed “diva,” but with Carey breaking the record for having the most No. 1s on the chart more than any other female artist EVER, Carey has proven that no one can come close to her when it comes to chart-topping singing career. In 1998, Carey took to the stage to perform her cover of Brenda K Starr’s “I Still Believe,” and the crowd LOVED it.
2. *NSYNC “Just Got Paid” (2000)
Giving us the stuff boy bands dreams are made of, *NSYNC covered Johnny Kemp’s new jack swing classic for their 2000 album No Strings Attached. At the height of the group’s career, they took to the BBMA stage performing the song wearing pimped out attire.
3. Prince “Let’s Go Crazy / Frankenstein / Fix Ur Life Up” (2013)
Before Prince’s untimely death in 2016, Prince, who received the 2013 BBMA Icon award, gave the fans what they wanted that year when he gave a fiery performance/mashup of “Let’s Go Crazy,” ” Frankenstein” and ” Fix Ur Life Up.” Prince’s performance showed just how iconic he was a true artist.
4. Miguel “Adorn” (2013)
Miguel’s 2013 BBMA performance of his hit song “Adorn” made history when Miguel, in an attempt to show off his dance moves attempted a stage jump that went terribly, terribly wrong. Being the true performer he is, Miguel quickly attempted to recover from the jump gone wrong, but it was too late–Miguel’s dance fail would make history that night(and made him the center of some of the funniest memes to date).
5. Janet Jackson “The Pleasure Principle” / “So Excited” (2006)
Jackson is this year’s BBMA Icon recipient and is said to be hard at work for her Sunday night post-award performance. Back in 2006 though, Jackson proved her Icon status early on when she performed a mashup of her hits “The Pleasure Principle” and “So Excited.” We can’t wait to see what Jackson has in store for her performance this year, but we’re sure it’ll be amazing.
6. Beyonce “Me, Myself and I” (2003)
Before Beyonce took her place on the throne, she appeared as her “own best friend” when she took to the stage to perform her 2003 ballad “Me., Myself and I,” proving that even back then she was destined for greatness.
7. Whitney Houston “I Have Nothing” (1993)
At the 1993 BBMAs Houston gave us all goosebumps when she performed her chart-topping song “I Have Nothing” from The Bodyguard soundtrack.
8. Bruno Mars “Treasure” (2013)
Before Mar’s gave us Magic, he made women everywhere feel like gold with his 2013 BBMA performance of his song “Treasure.” Giving us major Soul Train vibes, Mars and his band The Hooligans didn’t miss a beat with their crafty coordinated dance moves and matching red suits.
9. Celine Dion “The Show Must Go On” (2016)
Proving that the show must go on, Dion, who had lost both her brother and husband to cancer a few months prior gave a tear-jerking performance at the 2016 BBMAs where she was also awarded that year’s Icon Award.
10. Rihanna & Britney Spears “S&M” (2011)
What happens when two of today’s hottest pop queens join forces on stage? Well at the 2011 BBMAs fans got to see Britney Spears and Rihanna take the stage together to give a sexy and sultry rendition of RiRi’s song “S&M.”
