Billboard Music Awards: Madonna’s Prince Tribute Receives Mixed Response

The 'Living For Love' singer was joined on stage by Stevie Wonder.
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Madonna took to the stage to pay tribute to Prince at Sunday night’s (23 May) Billboard Music Awards, but her performance wasn’t a hit with everyone.

While many of the event’s A-list guests could be seen dancing and singing along at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, fans on social media gave mixed responses.

Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016 via Getty Images

Madonna was clad in a lavender paisley suit for the tribute, and gave her take on hits including ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ and ‘Let’s Go Crazy’,

She was also joined on stage by Stevie Wonder for ‘Purple Rain’, however, that wasn’t enough to win viewers over:

I've just watched Madonna's tribute to Prince at the #BBMAs and I have to pinch myself at how I've witnessed that talent live in concert! 💜

— Tom Massam (@gagamusicfem) May 23, 2016

Don't think Madonna did justice to Prince during that tribute :1 the only reason I somewhat enjoyed it was because of Stevie Wonder~

— Jojo .3. (@jojo_dapotaetoe) May 23, 2016

So kudos to Madonna for doing her tribute to prince. Exposed her very weak vocal ability to pay tribute to a genius #tespect

— Denis (@mr_opinion8) May 23, 2016

Purple Rain is one of my favorite songs ever! Madonna pay tribute to Prince,just AMAZING!!!

— SOUL POWER! (@elmermattos) May 23, 2016

the only good part was when stevie wonder was singing and madonna wasn't, Prince deserves better

— jesse georgiades (@Jaggy2k) May 23, 2016

Leave Madonna aloooone! As a Prince Ex She did great both vocally and emotionally!😃

— DerekTXFactor (@DerekTXFactor) May 23, 2016

@abcWNN Madonna's #BBMAs tribute to Prince sounded hideous. I've heard animals in distress cry out in better key

— Sir Harvey Fitz (@SirHarveyFitz) May 23, 2016

Just saw @Madonna performing the @Prince tribute at #BBMAs. I'm blown away! 140 characters are too few to express it pic.twitter.com/LH96D7vZIx

— Chris ツ (@Sneezing_Duck) May 23, 2016

The ‘Living For Love’ singer kept details of her performance under wraps in the run-up to the big night, though she did take to Twitter twice to pay tribute to Prince, who she counted as a friend and former collaborator.

The two music stars joined forces back in 1989, creating ‘Love Song’ at Prince’s Paisley Park recording studio.

Prince had a long history with the Billboard Music Awards, and received their Icon Awards just three years ago.

See Madonna's performance of 'Nothing Compares 2 U', and more photographs from the night, below...

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