Ludacris ready for a Kanye stage rush at Billboard Music Awards

By Mesfin Fekadu | Associated Press

Mariah Carey hitting high notes. Taylor Swift debuting a star-studded music video. And Kanye West possibly rushing the stage.

Those are the things Billboard Music Awards hosts Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen are most excited about when it comes to Sunday’s show in Las Vegas.

“Finger in the ear Mariah! I can definitely hit it, but I’m going to save that for the show,” the rapper said in an interview at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the show will take place.

Carey, who is currently in residency in Vegas, is set to perform at the Billboard Awards. West will close the three-hour show.

“I don’t think he’s going to rush the stage this time around. I think he’s going to chill,” Ludacris said. “Now if you have some free liquor for him like some brown, some cognac or something — that might be a whole different story. He may rush the stage and rush some people in the audience at the same time.”

“If I were up there and he rushed the stage, I would let him do whatever he wants, I swear,” Teigen said.

Ludcaris said he “might tackle” West. Teigen, who is married to John Legend, said she would film it.

“I would be Instagraming it,” the model said. “I’d be so excited.”

The night will feature a number of moments that could dominate Instagram and other social platforms Monday morning. Swift will debut her music video for “Bad Blood,” which will feature actresses Lena Dunham, Mariska Hargitay, Ellen Pompeo and Jessica Alba, as well as musicians like Kendrick Lamar, Ellie Goulding and Hayley Williams of Paramore, among others.

Swift is also the lead nominee with 14 nominations, including top Billboard 200 album for “1989” and top Hot 100 for “Shake It Off.” Sam Smith, who follows with 13 nominations, will compete with Swift for best artist along with Ariana Grande, One Direction and Katy Perry.

The British crooner won’t attend the show Sunday because of vocal-cord issues. He also cancelled his weekend performance at the Rock In Rio USA Festival in Las Vegas, which starred Swift and Bruno Mars on Friday and Saturday.

The awards show stage will feature top stars such as Britney Spears, Iggy Azalea, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Chris Brown, Pitbull, Ed Sheeran and Van Halen.

Imagine Dragons will pay tribute to Ben E. King, while Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa will perform their dedication to actor Paul Walker, the No. 1 hit “See You Again.”

And there may be a tribute to B.B. King, who died Thursday in Las Vegas. “At this point we are really not sure, but it will be acknowledged in the broadcast for sure,” executive producer Robert Deaton said in an interview Friday.

“We are working on it,” executive producer Mark Bracco added. “There’s going to be a lot of emotion in the show in addition to a lot of fun.”

The 2015 Billboard Music Awards will air on WLS-Channel 7 at 7 p.m. For top Billboard 200 album, Swift’s “1989” will battle efforts from Smith, Sheeran, Maroon 5 and Pentatonix.

Performers also include Meghan Trainor, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Fifth Harmony, Hozier, Fall Out Boy and Jussie Smollett and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray from the hit series, “Empire.”

Presenters include Idina Menzel, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Prince Royce.