Kelly Clarkson‘s hosting gigs at the past two Billboard Music Awards deserve awards themselves. And the Daytime Emmy-winning entertainment talk show host has gotten plenty just for her music alone.
Clarkson has three Grammys, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards and more to her name. As the well-decorated artist reprises her role as host for round three, she joins the ranks of comedian Kathy Griffin and rapper Ludacris who’ve hosted the BBMAs three or more times.
“I’m thrilled to be back with my Billboard family,” Clarkson said in a statement on Feb. 25, when she was first announced as host. “I love being part of an event that celebrates our greatest artists and entertains our fans. This a night of music that you won’t want to miss!”
Billboard remembers Clarkson’s five show-stopping hosting moments at the 2018 and 2019 BBMAs before she comes back in 2020.
Her call for protecting children from gun violence in the opening moment at the 2018 BBMAs
For her first go-around hosting the BBMAs, Clarkson was asked to hold a moment of silence for the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting in Texas on May 18, when eight students and two teachers were fatally shot and 13 were wounded. But on the May 20-dated awards show, Clarkson refused to remain silent.
“I’m a Texas girl and my home state has had so much heartbreak over this past year, and once again y’all, we’re grieving for more kids that have died for just an absolute no reason at all,” she said at the beginning of her heartfelt monologue while tearing up. “And tonight, they wanted me to say that obviously we want to pray for all the victims, we want to pray for all the families. But they also wanted me to do a moment of silence, and I’m so sick of moment of silence, my God, it’s not working, like obviously. So why don’t we not do a moment of silence? Why don’t we do a moment of action? Why don’t we a moment of change? Why don’t we change what’s happening?… I can’t imagine, I have four children, I cannot imagine getting that phone call or that knock on the door.”
Her opening medley performance at the 2018 BBMAs
Clarkson kicked off the killer award show with the only way she knew how — with iconic covers, of course! What feels like an extended version of her stellar “Kellyoke” segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show (which first premiered after the 2018 BBMAs on Sept. 9, 2019) appeared to be a BBMA historical highlight. Clarkson covered Maren Morris’ “My Church,” Sam Smith’s “Too Good at Goodbyes,” Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.”, Imagine Dragon’s “Thunder,” Khalid’s “Young, Dumb and Broke,” Bruno Mars and Cardi B’s “Finesse (Remix),” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” Shawn Mendes’ “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” and Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”
Her five custom Christian Siriano outfits at the 2018 BBMAs
The “I Dare You” singer definitely knows how to look the part of the host, with the help of fashion designer Christian Siriano. And in his own words, she looked “fabulous in fringe” that cloaked her black tailcoat and shimmered all around her gold dress. Speaking of gold, the hostess with the mostest was head-to-toe in gold sequins for a custom tuxedo that’s definitely one for the books.
Her opening medley performance at the 2019 BBMAs
Back for round two! This year, Clarkson performed yet another outstanding medley of hits while serenading some of the singers who helmed them from their seats, including: “Meant To Be” by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line; “Eastside” by Benny Blanco, Khalid and Halsey; “Boo’d Up” by Ella Mai; “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B; “The Middle” by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey; “One Kiss” by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa; “I Like It” by Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin; “Love Lies” by Khalid and Normani; “Tequila” by Dan + Shay; “Material Girl” by Madonna; “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco; “Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey; and “Wow.” by Post Malone.
Her uplifting closing performance of her new single “Broken & Beautiful” at the 2019 BBMAs
The 38-year-old pop star knows how to begin and end an awards show with “Wow!” factors. But after coming down from her high-intensity medley opening, Clarkson came out pretty in pink for such an uplifting debut performance of her “Broken & Beautiful” track from the animated movie UglyDolls that she looked like she was floating on clouds. And what better way to promote an upcoming kids flick than by having kids as the backing band and choir?