Country music star Morgan Wallen scooped four Billboard Music Awards in a ceremony which aired hours after he pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless endangerment in court.
Wallen picked up awards for top male artist, top country artist, top collaboration for the track I Had Some Help which he featured on with US star Post Malone and top country male artist – while Beyonce scooped top country female artist.
The awards ceremony, featuring a pre-recorded acceptance speech from Wallen, was broadcast hours after he appeared at a criminal court to plead guilty to throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-storey bar in Nashville.
He was sentenced to spend seven days at an education centre for driving under the influence and two years probation over the April incident, which he apologised for in a statement.
In his awards speech, Wallen said: “Thank you guys for everyone who has supported me along my journey, as always, most importantly, thank you to my fans.
“You guys have just given me so much freedom to just make music that I want to make, whether it’s a song that sounds similar to something I have put out in the past, or whether it is something that is completely different – you guys have always just at least given it a chance and that’s all I can ask for.
“I really just want to say thank you for being that way with my music.
“I hope I can come back next year and accept some more, but for now I really appreciate it.”
It comes after Wallen was named the Country Music Association Awards’ entertainer of the year last month.
