Machine Gun Kelly is a big winner at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.
On Sunday, May 23, the “Bloody Valentine” singer was crowned the Top Rock Artist during the telecast, marking the first big awards show win of his career so far.
“I released my first mixtape 15 years ago, and this is the first big stage I’ve ever been invited to accept an award on,” he said nearly in tears. “I wanna say something to the dreamers out there who are going to be tested by reality the way I was — suspend logic and invite magic,” he said. “If five years or 10 years or 12 years had been too long waiting for this moment, then I wouldn’t be having this moment. Show the universe that it can’t take your dream from you.”
He went on to thank his city Cleveland, girlfriend Megan Fox, his daughter and his late father.
“To the box that society keeps trying to put me in, you need stronger material, because you can’t keep me in it,” MGK said before exiting the stage.
See his full acceptance speech below.
Earlier today, MGK won his first-ever Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Album with his recently released pop-punk project, Tickets To My Downfall.
MGK was also nominated for Top Rock Song with Blackbear for their collaborative single “My Ex’s Best Friend,” however AJR won that award for their single “BANG!”
The 2021 Billboard Music Awards also featured performances from BTS, The Weeknd, Jonas Brothers, Marshmello, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots, Bad Bunny, Karol G, Alicia Keys, DJ Khaled with H.E.R. and Migos, Doja Cat & SZA, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with Sounds of Blackness, AJR, Glass Animals and Duran Duran.
In addition to the performers, the BBMAs included a star-studded list of presenters: Kelsea Ballerini, Chelsea Handler, Gabrielle Union, Lena Waithe, Swizz Beatz, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., Cynthia Erivo, Kathryn Hahn, Henry Golding, Dixie D’Amelio, Lil Rel Howery and Padma Lakshmi. Beyonce’s mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson, presented the Change Maker Award to Trae Tha Truth.
Hosted by Nick Jonas, 2021 Billboard Music Awards aired live on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC and NBC live streaming website.
