Thundercat & Jordin Sparks
Thundercat and Jordin Sparks at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Ahead of tonight’s 2023 Billboard Music Awards, we celebrated the year of chart-toppers at Billboard No. 1s: The Official Party of the Billboard Music Awards on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
Among the stars who made their way up to the Sheats-Goldstein Residence in the Beverly Crest neighborhood of LA were 2023 Billboard Music Awards finalists Jordin Sparks and Keena from the K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY, as well as Miguel, Coco Jones, Madison Beer, Jaden Smith, Normani, Landon Barker, Bella Poarch, Iann Dior, Diane Warren, Victoria Justice, Westside Gunn, The Rose’s Woosung and Jaehyung, Ross Lynch, Paul Russell, Bia, Baby Tate, The Veronicas, Yvng Lvcas, Queen Naija, Slayyyter, Lele Pons, Harry Jowsey, Skai Jackson, Laura Marano, McKenna Grace and many more.
On the red carpet outside the estate, Keena told Billboard’s Rania Aniftos that she was still processing FIFTY FIFTY being up for two prizes at tonight’s BBMAs: top duo/group and top global K-pop song for “Cupid.” “This is so surreal,” she said. “I can’t believe I’m here. I feel so honored and grateful to be nominated for this award.”
Sparks told Billboard that her husband, Dana Isaiah, was the one who broke the news to her that “Love Me Like I Am,” her collab with for KING & COUNTRY, was up for top Christian song at tonight’s awards show. “It means the world to be a BBMAs finalist,” she said. “Billboard has been such a pillar in the music community for so long, so it feels especially special to be here.”
One of our chart-toppers in the building was Miguel, whose 2010 song “Sure Thing” crawled its way to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Pop Airplay chart this year, more than a decade after its release. “It’s a massive blessing,” he told Billboard. “It’s a testament to how fans can really push a song and great songwriting can live on and live forever, and how great music still matters.”
Another 2023 chart-topper at the party was Coco Jones, whose breakthrough smash “ICU” spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. “Even seeing ‘ICU’ on the Billboard charts was such a huge goal of mine,” Jones told Billboard on the carpet. “It’s been on my vision board since I was literally 16 years old. So it’s so full-circle and I’m so honored to be here.”
Guests were ushered up to the private residence on Saturday night by a fleet of vehicles from Lexus, which sponsored the Billboard No. 1s party. Once inside, they could hit the dance floor soundtracked by the night’s DJ, NITRANE; grab a drink or a passed app; or head outside for an expansive view overlooking the city across a pool with a massive Billboard No. 1s sign across the back.
The 2023 Billboard Music Awards Presented by Marriott Bonvoy will start rolling out performances and awards via BBMAs.watch, as well as across BBMAs and Billboard social channels, starting tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Find the full schedule, list of performers and how to watch here.
Below, find photos from the red carpet and inside at Billboard No. 1s: The Official Party of the Billboard Music Awards.
Thundercat and Jordin Sparks at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Landon Barker and Iann Dior at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
BIA and Jeleel at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Lele Pons at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Leonelle and Keena at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Normani at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
June Freedom at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Keena and Jordin Sparks at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Lexie Stevenson at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Milo Manheim and Bella Poarch at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Coco Jones at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Arize and Preston Pippen at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Queen Naija at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Diane Warren and Lori Rischer at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Joyce Wrice at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Crowder and Jacoby Shaddix at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Jaehyeong and Kim Woo-sung of The Rose and Miguel at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
BLXST at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Madison Beer at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Polo G at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on November 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Kim Woo-sung and Jaehyeong of The Rose, Jamil Davis and Jaden Smith at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Baby Tate at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Keena at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Cambrian and Tay Keith at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Diane Warren at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Fridayy at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on November 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Westside Gunn at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov.18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Miguel at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Ledisi at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Victoria Justice at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Khris Riddick-Tynes at Billboard No. 1’s Party held on Nov. 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.