Drake, Cher and Celine Dion Impress at Billboard Music Awards

  This is What’s Trending Today. Canadian rapper and singer Drake took home 13 awards at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night. He beat the Billboard record that British singer-songwriter Adele set in 2012.  Drake’s 2016 album “Views” helped him win top artist, top male artist and top Billboard 200 album. One of the hit songs from the album is “Hotline Bling.” Drake earned the top artist award ahead of Beyonce, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Adele, among others. While Drake won the most awards, some say night’s biggest winners may have been Cher and Celine Dion.   Cher received this year’s Icon award. She sang her songs, “Believe,” from 1998 and “If I Could Turn Back Time,” which came out in 1989. Cher, who first gained fame in the 1960s with partner Sonny Bono, celebrated her 71st birthday over the weekend. She told the audience Sunday night, “I wanted to do what I do since I was four years old, and I’ve been doing it for 53 years.” On social media, many people discussed Cher’s performance, her costume choices and her excellent physical condition, especially for someone her age. Cher told the crowd Sunday, “I can do a five-minute plank. Just saying.” A plank is a difficult exercise meant to strengthen the stomach muscles. People on social media also enjoyed a video of Celine Dion dancing backstage as Cher performed. Dion was seen singing and snapping as Cher sang “Believe.” Dion appeared on stage, as well. Wearing a white dress with large, puffy shoulders, she performed “My Heart Will Go On.” The song, which was featured in the movie “Titanic,” became famous around the world almost 20 years ago.  A critic from The Atlantic said Dion’s performance saved the show from mediocrity – or not being especially good. And Variety magazine called the awards show “dreary” aside from the performances by Cher and New Zealand singer Lorde. Lorde performed one of her new songs, “Green Light.” And that’s What’s Trending Today.   I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on a story by The Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Did you see any of the music performances? What did you think? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   _____________________________________________________________   Words in This Story   icon – n. a person who is very successful and admired costume – n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing puffy – adj. soft and light plank – n. a physical exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles, in which one performs a press-up and holds the raised position for a set period of time. mediocrity – n. the quality of something that is not very good : the quality or state of being mediocre dreary – adj. not warm or cheerful, causing unhappiness feature – v. to have or include (someone or something) as an important part backstage – n. behind the stage of a theater snap – v. to use your thumb and fingers to make a short, sharp sound

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