A socially distanced version of the Billboard Music Awards aired Wednesday night (Oct 14). Kelly Clarkson, hosting the show for a third year, opened the event with a cover of “Higher Love,” the 1986 hit song by Steve Winwood. The a’cappella group Pentatonix and legendary drummer Sheila E. joined the American Idol OG winner, The Voice coach and talk show host on the upbeat rendition.
Actually, the only “a’cappella” singing came toward the end of the performance, and the harmonies were beautiful. Kelly showed off her awesome interpretive skills and vocal range, as always. Sheila E, the only artist on stage old enough to remember when the song was a hit, did her thing on the skins.
Originally, NBC scheduled the 2020 Billboard Music Awards for May. But once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the event was postponed. Kelly hosted live from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, without an audience, introducing presenters and pre-recorded performance clips.
2020 Billboard Music Awards Complete Winners List (Video)
Check out Kelly’s opening “Higher Love” performance below.
https://youtu.be/r2P0jIfEP9s
