Celine presents, Mariah performs, Taylor lauded at Billboard Music Awards

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Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP

Taylor Swift accepts the award for top billboard 200 album for “1989” at the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.

Published Sun, May 17, 2015 (6:53 p.m.)

Updated Sun, May 17, 2015 (11:49 p.m.)

2015 Billboard Music Awards: Arrivals

Dan Reynolds, from left, Ben McKee, Daniel Sermon, and Daniel Platzman of the musical group Imagine Dragons arrive at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Eric Jamison/Invision/AP) Launch slideshow »

2015 Billboard Music Awards: Show

From left, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne of One Direction accept the award for top duo/group at the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas. Launch slideshow »
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David Lee Roth, left, and Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen perform at the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.

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Chrissy Teigen and Ludacris host the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 17, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

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From left, Zendaya, Martha Hunt, Taylor Swift, Lily Aldridge, Hailee Steinfeld and Ellen Pompeo speak at at the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.

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Hosts Chrissy Teigen, left, and Ludacris speak at the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.

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Taylor Swift accepts the award for top billboard 200 album for “1989” at the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.

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Wiz Khalifa performs at the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.

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Fans gather at the red carpet before the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 17, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Las Vegas continues to serve as the center of the pop music universe, as the 2015 Billboard Music Awards telecast is rumbling through MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show hits town less than 24 hours after Rock in Rio USA closed its two-weekend run at MGM Resorts Festival Grounds.

Off the top, we warn: “Spoiler alert!” throughout this post.

The show airs on tape delay on ABC at 8 p.m. PST (Las Vegas is in the Pacific Standard Time Zone), although it is performed live at 5 p.m. for the rest of the country. Thus, a lot of awards will be noted throughout, as will some of the surprises intended for the telecast.

Set for the night are on-air tributes to two departed Kings: B.B. King and Ben E. King. The latter will be honored by Imagine Dragons, playing an acoustic version of “Stand By Me.” Also in the telecast is the debut of Taylor Swift’s new video, “Bad Blood,” at the top of the show. The show will throw to Britney Spears at Axis at Planet Hollywood, and a performance by Mariah Carey is … scheduled.

Tonight’s co-hosts are recording and film star Ludacris and supermodel/TV host Chrissy Teigen (“The Chew,” “Lip Sync Battle,” “The View”) Chrissy Teigen. Judging by the early run-through of the show, Teigen’s attire will be a hot topic during and after the broadcast.

Otherwise, follow along.

Updated at 4:55 p.m.: Wayne and Kat Newton were on the carpet earlier. Look smashing. Wayner is moving forward with plans to turn Casa de Shenandoah into a museum and public attraction and even host events on the property. Recently, Ludacris said the most random person he ever sat next to at an awards show was Newton. "I tried to get his contact information because he has the key to the whole damn city. So if I ever go to jail in Vegas, I can call Wayne Newton.

5:05 p.m.: "Bad Blood" just aired. Very slick. "Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes," sings Tay.

5:10 p.m.: Van Halen, or what remains with Wolfie Van Halen on bass, dusts off "Panama." Damn they still bring it. Britney among those groovin' to this 31-year-old rocker.

5:11 p.m.: All I can say about Van Halen is if you think they are nuts now, you should have seen them in their prime.

5:13 p.m.: “I bang a musician!” Teigen says, explaining her credentials to host the show. John Legend stands and is recognized.

5:15 p.m.: "Minaj? I can't do these anymore," Teigen says. She's a handful, that one.

5:17 p.m.: One Direction wins top duo/group. There are now four, correct? One Fewer Direction? Zayn Malik gets a shoutout.

5:25 p.m.: Swift wins top Billboard 200 album and kisses a guy who looks just like Calvin Harris on her way to the stage. She looks really great tonight in a cut-through, white pantsuit.

5:29 p.m.: Fall Out Boy sings "Uma Thurman," with dancers dressed as Thurman from "Pulp Fiction." Classic. This scene must be seen.

5:30 p.m.:Fun Fact: Radio personality Heidi Harris has been the escort for the Fall Out Boy Dancers, all dressed like Thurman. Like, all 10. But not Heidi.

5:40 p.m.: Meghan Trainor with John Legend duet on "Like I'm Gonna Lose You," and it is pretty sweet. She's holding one of those jewel-encrusted microphones that looks very expensive or maybe is a toy.

5:43 p.m.: “Britney with Iggy.” That should be fun. Coming up shortly (as the girl said).

5:53 p.m.: Carey is making her first BMA appearance in 17 years. Vocally strong for “Vision of Love” and “Infinity” medley. “Infinity” really could be about Nick Cannon, but they say it is not. She goes up-up-up, vocally, at the end. Crowd loves that.

5:56 p.m.: Top rap song goes to Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX for “Fancy,” and they both are. Award is given by Danica McKellar, whom we remember as Winnie Cooper from “The Wonder Years.”

6:06 p.m.: "Hello, Las Vegas!" says Celine Dion, doling out the top male artist award to non-attendee Sam Smith, in New York recovering from vocal surgery. But he is shown on remote with cue-card messages thanking the fans and calling out Minaj for her great bum.

6:13 p.m.: "This is a band that has so many stars crossed and such a colorful history, it feels like a Lucille Ball comedy," says “Diamond” David Lee Roth, speaking of Van Halen. Says he got some "SEC" with J.Lo during "Panama." SEC? "That stands for Serious Eye Contact."

6:35 p.m.: Swift gets another award in Las Vegas, her 167th, by unofficial count. For top female artist. Very shimmery is Tay tonight. She is a genuine star. Thanks "all the girls I talk to all the time on the Internet who teach me all the teenage slang."

6:44 p.m.: Top touring artist is — with The Rolling Stones joining One Direction on this list — goes to One Direction!

6:46 p.m.: "Las Vegas' newest sensation!" is how J.Lo is introduced, and she asks, "Vegas! Are you ready?" Seems pop superstars are acutely concerned for our city's party preparations. She introduces Pitbull and Chris Brown, who boogie and sing to "Fun." Say what you want about Brown, he is one of the great dancers out there, and he also is wearing a suit the color of a splattered pomegranate.

6:48 p.m.: Funny: "Someone should send a real pitbull after Chris Brown."

6:56 p.m.: Few artists get more out of an acoustic guitar than does Ed Sheeran. Standing O for him.

7:10 p.m.: Another award for Swift, Billboard Chart Achievement, largely determined by fan interest and involvement on social media.

7:14 p.m.: Britney and Iggy! At last. In “Pretty Girls.” Spears has her share of great duet partners over the years. Steven Tyler, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna among them. Recorded at Axis at Planet Hollywood, which is well-served by the coverage.

7:18 p.m.: Minaj in a three-minute flurry. She is so fun to watch. And she seems to know it.

7:22 p.m.: Refreshing acoustic turn by Tori Kelly, "Ain't nobody love like you do," she sings and plays. Performance sponsored by Kia, says the voice-over.

7:25 p.m.: "Thirty years ago — 30 years ago! — I was in a very special club!" says Molly Ringwald. Here come Simple Minds and "Don't You Forget About Me." Hashtag-nostalgia. Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

7:29 p.m.: After that song, Ringwald was standing next to Swift, who seemed to be entering her number into her iPhone.

7:34 p.m.: The one who started the "American Idol" frenzy, Kelly Clarkson, with "Invincible." Her championship on the show was 13 years ago.

7:38 p.m.: Top country artist goes to Florida Georgia Line, which has been on an extended run for the past couple of years in awards shows here in VegasVille. Another cutaway to Swift. All of these shows feature cutaways to Swift.

7:41 p.m.: Imagine Dragons with the long-awaited cover of "Stand By Me," the band sitting on amp cases. Honoring Ben E. King. This song has been recorded by more than 400 artists, including Otis Redding and John Lennon. Great, soulful guitar solo by Wayne Sermon.

7:45 p.m.: Earlier, from Celine, when someone asked about her coming back to Las Vegas: "I am here. I am already in Vegas. I live here."

7:50 p.m.: The cast of "Entourage" deal the top artist award to ... Swift! "Oh this is such a good night ... earlier this morning I watched my brother Austin graduate from Notre Dame, then I flew here." Friday in Las Vegas for Rock in Rio USA, Saturday in South Bend, Ind., back to Las Vegas. She dedicates the award to graduates everywhere.

7:55 p.m.:Kanye West, with Kendall and Kylie Jenner with "All Day" and "Black Skinhead," the final performance rung by pyrotechnics. Seems to be wearing a fire-retardant suit.

8:23: Sounded like boos welcomed that show-closing act. It was a chorus of something. Boos toward the Jenner girls? Is that the scene?

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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