At Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards (May 23), Machine Gun Kelly emerged victorious from a crowded top rock artist category, his first big win thus far in his career.
Taking to the stage, dressed in an opened-up shirt and suit combo, Kelly celebrated his win by looking back on his first-ever project. “I released my first mixtape 15 years ago, and this is the first big stage I’ve ever been invited to accept an award on,” he said, choking up.
Accepting the award from Chelsea Handler, the “My Ex’s Best Friend” singer sent out a message to his fans, encouraging them to keep pursuing their goals, regardless of the results they’re yielding right now. “I wanna say something to the dreamers out there who are going to be tested by reality the way I was — suspend logic and invite magic,” he said. “If five years or 10 years or 12 years had been too long waiting for this moment, then I wouldn’t be having this moment. Show the universe that it can’t take your dream from you.”
After thanking his team, his girlfriend Megan Fox, his daughter and the rest of his family, the singer had one more “thank you” to offer; “To the box that society keeps trying to put me in, you need stronger material, because you can’t keep me in it,” he said with a smile.
While his speech may have been his first televised awards moment, the star did take home another BBMA before the ceremony began on Sunday, winning his first-ever Billboard Music Award for top rock album for his LP Tickets to My Downfall.
The Billboard Music Awards are produced by dick clark productions, which is owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.
