Elton John was given the prestigious Icon Award at the iHeartRadio Awards on Thursday night in Hollywood.
The honor came complete with a unique tribute performance by Demi Lovato, H.E.R. and Brandi Carlile performing his hits like Benny and the Jets.
The honor got off to a humorous start, with Coldplay’s Chris Martin pretending to have difficulties with the prompter.
As far as the other awards handed out, The Weeknd was the big winner, taking home Song of the Year and Best Male Artist of the Year honors.
Elton honored: Elton John was given the prestigious Icon Award at the iHeartRadio Awards on Thursday night in Hollywood
Tribute: The honor came complete with a unique tribute performance by Demi Lovato, H.E.R. and Brandi Carlile performing his hits like Benny and the Jets
Big winner: As far as the other awards handed out, The Weeknd was the big winner, taking home Song of the Year and Best Male Artist of the Year honors
H.E.R. kicked off the performance tribute with a rousing rendition of Benny and the Jets, followed by Brandi Carlile singing Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
Demi Lovato brought the crowd to their feet, coming out in a sparkling pantsuit and sunglasses inspired by Elton’s classic look, singing I’m Still Standing.
After the rousing performances (and a bit of Chris Martin filling in for time), John took to the stage, to a standing ovation.
H.E.R. sings: H.E.R. kicked off the performance tribute with a rousing rendition of Benny and the Jets, followed by Brandi Carlile singing Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Demi sings: Demi Lovato brought the crowd to their feet, coming out in a sparkling pantsuit and sunglasses inspired by Elton’s classic look, singing I’m Still Standing
‘Thank you so much to iHeartRadio for honoring me this way. Thank you to H.E.R., Brandi Carlile, Demi Lovato, for paying tribute to me,’ he began.
‘It’s very touching, and I’m very humbled. Because when I first came to Los Angeles in 1970, radio was so important. I’d never heard radio in America before, because I’d never been here before, but it was just incredible to me. In England we had one station. Over here you had music coming out of the radio in all sorts of formats, all sorts of styles,’ he added.
‘But I have to say, radio is such an important thing to all of us. That’s where you hear things, that’s where you discover things, that’s why I like doing a radio show, that’s why being played on the radio for the first time, when you sit there and you hear yourself and you’re so excited — and it’s, for me what this award means, is that I still covet new artists,’ John continued.
He added that he tries to ‘promote young artists’ because ‘they need exposure,’ adding he’s had his ‘time in the sun.
He also gave a ‘special thanks’ to Lil Nas X, ‘because he is a wonderful artist and has balls of steel!’
Thanks: ‘Thank you so much to iHeartRadio for honoring me this way. Thank you to H.E.R., Brandi Carlile, Demi Lovato, for paying tribute to me,’ he began
Touching: ‘It’s very touching, and I’m very humbled. Because when I first came to Los Angeles in 1970, radio was so important. I’d never heard radio in America before, because I’d never been here before, but it was just incredible to me. In England we had one station. Over here you had music coming out of the radio in all sorts of formats, all sorts of styles,’ he added
Special thanks: He also gave a ‘special thanks’ to Lil Nas X, ‘because he is a wonderful artist and has balls of steel!’
Duet: The Weeknd got the 2021 iHeartRadio Awards off to a fantastic start with a performance of Save Your Tears… which became a surprise duet with Ariana Grande
The Weeknd got the 2021 iHeartRadio Awards off to a fantastic start with a performance of Save Your Tears… which became a surprise duet with Ariana Grande.
The 31-year-old singer took to the stage solo at the Dolby Theater to sing the first verse of his beloved song, before surprising the fans by bringing Grande, 27, out for the second verse.
The surprise duet shocked fans at the Dolby Theater, which kicked off the show before host Usher came out, surprising a few fans of his own by handing out stacks of cash.
First verse: The 31-year-old singer took to the stage solo at the Dolby Theater to sing the first verse of his beloved song, before surprising the fans by bringing Grande, 27, out for the second verse
Usher bucks: The surprise duet shocked fans at the Dolby Theater, which kicked off the show before host Usher came out, surprising a few fans of his own by handing out stacks of cash
Megan Thee Stallion won the first award of the night when she took home Best Collaboration for her song Savage featuring Beyonce, presented by French Montana.
She beat out Go Crazy – Chris Brown & Young Thug, Holy – Justin Bieber featuring Chance the Rapper, I Hope – Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth and Mood – 24kGoldn featuring iann dio.
Megan thanked God, ‘Because without god, we wouldn’t be nothing,’ before thanking her fans, ‘the hotties, because without y’all, I wouldn’t be happening.
Presenter: Megan Thee Stallion won the first award of the night when she took home Best Collaboration for her song Savage featuring Beyonce, presented by French Montana
Winner: She beat out Go Crazy – Chris Brown & Young Thug, Holy – Justin Bieber featuring Chance the Rapper, I Hope – Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth and Mood – 24kGoldn featuring iann dio
Thanking god and hotties: Megan thanked God, ‘ Because without god, we wouldn’t be nothing,’ before thanking her fans, ‘the hotties, because without y’all, I wouldn’t be happening
Twenty One Pilots took home the Alternative Artist of the Year and the Alternative Rock Song of the Year for their hit Level of Concern.
They revealed during a video package that the COVID-19 quarantine gave them more time to ‘work on music.’
‘My mom was like, I can use an upbeat song to distract me from all of this, and I took it as a challenge,’ Tyler Joseph said.
Winners: Twenty One Pilots took home the Alternative Artist of the Year and the Alternative Rock Song of the Year for their hit Level of Concern
Winner: Shay: Dan + Shay also performed their hit new single Glad You Exist during the telecast, introduced by their labelmate Gabby Bareress
Dan + Shay also performed their hit new single Glad You Exist during the telecast, introduced by their labelmate Gabby Bareress
They were followed by an electric performance by Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, performing their hit Leave the Door Open.
Taylor Swift won Pop Album of the Year for her hit album Folklore, as she thanked everyone from her fans to her photographer.
Bruno and Anderson: They were followed by an electric performance by Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, performing their hit Leave the Door Open
‘Thank you so much for this award and for the honor. I have to say thank you to everyone at I heart and everyone that supported Folklore. It was an album I made in the very beginning of the pandemic, I started writing it, and I feel like it became sort of an emotional life raft for me to put all my feelings into,’ Swift said.
‘I have to say thank you to Aaron Defner and Jack Antonoff, your creativity has completely changed my life, friends forever. Thank you to Beth Garabrant, who took the photos for Folklore, and really helped me create this world that I saw in my head,’ she added.
‘Because we all needed to escape into stories, whether it was movies or TV or film or music. And the fact that you chose this album, I am so honored by that. And you really wrapped your arms around it. The way that someday we’ll get to wrap our arms around each other when we see each other again,’ she concluded.
After his crowd-pleasing opening performance, The Weeknd was named Male Artist of the Year.
‘Thank you. Oh my gosh. Live audience. I want to thank my team, my xo family, of course. I want to thank my family, money and Luke, Wendy, Jo, Katherine Frasier, Sal, Cash, Lamar. I want to thank Ariana grande for coming out tonight. I want to thank my fans. Thank you. I love you guys,’ The Weeknd said.
Nelly presents: Nelly came out to present the Best Hip-Hop Artist of the Year to Roddy Ricch, who beat out DaBaby, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and Pop Smoke
Nelly came out to present the Best Hip-Hop Artist of the Year to Roddy Ricch, who beat out DaBaby, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and Pop Smoke.
‘I just want to thank my teach, my mama, my son, know what I’m saying, this for you, my mama,’ Roddy Ricch said in his succinct speech.
Machine Gun Kelly won Alternative Rock Album of the Year, though when host Usher asked if he was done with rap, he answered an emphatic, ‘Never! Never! Never!”
Thanks: ‘I just want to thank my teach, my mama, my son, know what I’m saying, this for you, my mama,’ Roddy Ricch said in his succinct speech
Nikki Glaser came out to announce all of the different Best New Artist winners, with Gabby Barrett winning Best New Country Artist, Powfu winning Best New Alternative Artist, Rauw Alejandro winning Best New Latin Artist, Roddy Ricch winning Best New Hip-Hop Artist and Snoh Aalegra winning Best New R&B Artist.
The last of these successive awards was Best New Pop Artist, won by Doja Cat, who would go on to perform Kiss Me More on stage.
Dua Lipa was named the Female Artist of the Year, beating Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion and Taylor Swift, presented by Ava Max.
Presenter: Nikki Glaser came out to announce all of the different Best New Artist winners, with Gabby Barrett winning Best New Country Artist, Powfu winning Best New Alternative Artist, Rauw Alejandro winning Best New Latin Artist, Roddy Ricch winning Best New Hip-Hop Artist and Snoh Aalegra winning Best New R&B ArtistF
Doja performs: The last of these successive awards was Best New Pop Artist, won by Doja Cat, who would go on to perform Kiss Me More on stage
The singer said the honor was ‘insane’ and thanked her fans, ‘because without you I wouldn’t be here.’
She thanked the fans for listening to her album Future Nostalgia, adding, ‘this album means a great deal to me.’
‘I’m very, very grateful. I want to thank I heart, and in particular, I want to thank Tom Pullman. I want to thank John Sykes. I want to thank John Ivy and all the radio stations that made this possible,’ she said.
She went on to thank her team because she knows, ‘how hard you guys have been working. I know this has been such a difficult year, but I am so grateful music brings us together.’
Lipa also thanked the frontline workers, ‘because of you, the world goes around,’ concluding she will ‘see you soon on the road.
Presenter: Dua Lipa was named the Female Artist of the Year, beating Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion and Taylor Swift, presented by Ava Max
H.E.R. took home Best R&B Artist of the Year, presented by Robin Thicke, adding the honor and the applause was, ‘so sweet’ adding she’s in tears.
She went on to thank God and all of her fans for ‘recognizing me,’ along with John Sykes, of course, Tom Pullman. Doc Winter, Theo, Noelle, my sister, I love you.’
She also thanked all of the ‘program directors and DJs everywhere,’ along with her management team and RCA label.
Presenter: H.E.R. took home Best R&B Artist of the Year, presented by Robin Thicke, adding the honor and the applause was, ‘so sweet’ adding she’s in tears
Thanks: She went on to thank God and all of her fans for ‘recognizing me,’ along with John Sykes, of course, Tom Pullman. Doc Winter, Theo, Noelle, my sister, I love you’
‘I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for you guys. But you know, I heart, they gave me an opportunity in the beginning of a global pandemic to just play and sing in my living room. To me that’s what it’s all about, it’s about the music and still being able to do what I love,’ she added.
‘Thank you so much for the continued love and support. Because at the end of the day, you know, I’m nothing without you guys, the fans,’ she concluded.
Usher took the stage next to perform a medley of his hits, including a surprise performance by Lil Jon on their hit song Yeah!
Continued love: ‘Thank you so much for the continued love and support. Because at the end of the day, you know, I’m nothing without you guys, the fans,’ she concluded
Usher and Lil Jon: Usher took the stage next to perform a medley of his hits, including a surprise performance by Lil Jon on their hit song Yeah!
Machine Gun Kelly came out to present the final award of the night, Song of the Year, which was won by The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights.
The Weeknd couldn’t start his speech because he was getting so much love from his fans, as he said, ‘You guys make me wanna tour like tomorrow.’
He also thanked his team and echoed the same message he said at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday: ‘And I want to say like I said before, the after hours are done, and the dawn is coming,’ which could hint at the theme of his new album.
Presenter: Machine Gun Kelly came out to present the final award of the night, Song of the Year, which was won by The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights
Nominations: Megan Thee Stallion came out on top when the nominations for the iHeartRadio Music Awards were revealed on Wednesday
Vote: Fans will get to vote on several special awards starting on Wednesday