Billboard Music Awards 2012: Adele was the clear winner as she scooped 12 gongs

Adele was the clear winner at last tonight’s Billboard Music Awards as she scooped a whopping 12 gongs.

Unfortunately, Adele wasn’t present at the Las Vegas event to collect her trophies.

However there were plenty of other winners on hand to celebrate their achievements at the bash, including Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.

LMFAO came second top with 6 awards, and opened the show with a medley before hosts and Modern Family stars Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen took to the stage.

The pair poked fun at their wholesome images and even appeared in a couple of videos showing them depicting different music genres.

Justin Bieber scooped the first award, for Social Artist, presented to him by Julianne Hough.

“First if all I just want to say how much of a blessing it’s been the past three or for years growing up in front of everybody,” Justin Bieber said.

He went on: “I just want to thank all my fans because, you know, the internet is where I got my start and all my fans have helped me get to this position.”

Justin Bieber then thanked his manager Scooter Braun and Usher, “for not only saying, <<OK, I can sign him and just let him be>>, but instead he takes the time to really care”.

The singer later performed his new single Boyfriend for the excited audience.

Lisa Marie Presley then awarded the special Spotlight gong to Katy Perry, who said: “This is cool! They told me the only other person who’s received this award is Michael Jackson, so I feel incredibly honored to be in that same category – although I don’t compare at all.”

Katy Perry thanked her record label EMI, radio stations for playing her songs, and the “glittering gorgeous community of fans out there”.

She added: “These songs have been kind of like the diary of the last few years for me,” before thanking her 91-year-old grandmother, who accompanied her to the event.

Katy Perry later returned to the stage to perform Wide Awake, which saw her suspended from the ceiling against a sky backdrop.

Robin Thicke introduced his Duets co-star Kelly Clarkson, who gave the first ever performance of her new song Dark Side.

The Wanted were next up to perform after being introduced by Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen, and then Brandy gave an introduction to Chris Brown.

Taylor Swift was honored with a Woman of the Year Award by Zooey Deschanel who described her as “as lovely as everything she stands for”.

Meanwhile Lil Wayne, who was also not present, won Best Rap Artist.

Chris Brown was awarded four gongs, and also performed during the evening.

Miley Cyrus presented the Top New Artist award to Wiz Khalifa, who thanked his “beautiful fiancée” Amber Rose in his acceptance speech.

There were also performances by Carly Rae Jepson, Carrie Underwood, Linkin Park, Cee Lo Green and Nelly Furtado.

And Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder performed a duet together before she presented the music legend with the Billboard Icon Award.

The awards ceremony also saw tributes to those in the singing world who have died recently, and the audience held a moment of silence for Robin Gibb.

Julie Bowen said: “His voice and the music of the Bee Gees will live on forever.”

Natasha Bedingfield paid tribute to Donna Summer by performing Last Dance, and John Legend and Jordin Sparks performed Whitney Houston tracks.

Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown then delivered a poignant speech when she accepted the Millennium Award on behalf of her late mother.

Bobbi Kristina Brown said: “I just really want to say thank you to everyone who supported us through it all. Not just from when it was good, but when it was bad too.

“Thank you so much for showing that much love, because she deserved it. She did. I’m just blessed to have been in such an incredible woman’s life.

“There will never be another one ever, and I thank you, all of you – the fans, everyone. Thank you so much.”