The Weeknd Ends ‘After Hours’ Era With 2021 Billboard Music Awards Performance

The night’s most-nominated artist took to the stage on May 23 to perform some of his biggest hits. He also bid adieu to his After Hours era as he lit up the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. The musician has won almost all the awards he was nominated for.

Before his performance, the singer announced that his After Hours era was finally coming to a close. He said he would like to thank God that he does not have to wear that red suit anymore. “I’d like to thank God that I don’t have to wear that red suit anymore,” he said during an acceptance speech. “The after-hours are done, and the dawn is coming.” 

As we all know, The Weeknd has not been a stranger to the Billboard charts. He got a total of 16 award nominations this year. This included Top Artist, Top Male Artist, and Top Streaming Songs Artist. His recent album, After Hours has three No. 1 hit songs which are on the Billboard Hot 100. He has an overall of 30 top 40 tracks including six No. 1s. The musician also had four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart.

This included his After Hours album which became the first album with three Billboard Hot 100 No, 1s since 2018. The Weeknd became the second artist to have three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in three different years from one album. His performance at the Billboard Music Awards came after he spoke out against the Grammys.

Despite the artist having a hit single spend 40 weeks on the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, and an album in its first week, he received no nominations for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. “The GRAMMYs remain corrupt,” he tweeted in November. “You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.” 

The Weeknd later on shared to The New York Times that he would boycott the Grammys and no longer allow his label to submit music to them. Grammys on the other hand have announced a change in its nomination process. Here’s hoping no worthy artist gets snubbed again.

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