Michael Jackson Performs at Billboard Awards

19 May, 2014

Justin Timberlake, hometown rockers Imagine Dragons and Robin Thicke were big winners at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday in Las Vegas where a computer-generated Michael Jackson danced and sang a newly released song.

The annual televised awards show, a main showcase for the music industry, honored Timberlake seven times, including top artist, top male artist and top Billboard 200 album for last year’s “The 20/20 Experience.”

Timberlake, 33, who is on tour in Europe, accepted the awards in taped speeches with his touring band that numbers about 20 strong.

“It’s not a competition, but if it was, I won. And guess what? I’m OK with that,” Timberlake said in a good-natured joke aimed at his competition, singers Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and rockers Imagine Dragons.

The late King of Pop Michael Jackson made an appearance as a hologram, performing his posthumously released song “Slave to the Rhythm” with a slew of dancers moving around his computer-generated image.

The performance prompted an emotional standing ovation with some audience members shown wiping away tears.

Imagine Dragons won five awards, including top Hot 100 artist for songs’ chart performance, top rock artist and top duo/group among others. The Grammy-winning Las Vegas band also performed their song “Tiptoe” on the show.

R&B singers Thicke, Pharrell Williams and rapper T.I. scored four wins on the back of their megahit “Blurred Lines,” including awards for top Hot 100 song, digital song and radio song and R&B song.

Seventeen-year-old pop sensation Lorde, dressed all in black with black feather fringes, captured the award for top new artist and top rock song for the hit “Royals,” which already landed her two Grammy Awards this year.

The Billboard Music Awards – which measures honors by sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and other metrics – is a top venue for artists to unveil new songs in time for the summer.

Jennifer Lopez was honored with Icon Award for lifetime achievement, and country singer Carrie Underwood won the fan-voted Milestone Award.

Reuters

Image Kevin Winter/Billboard Awards 2014/Getty Images

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