Stevie Wonder Performs With Alicia Keys; Receives Billboard Icon Award

Before he was honored with this year's Billboard Icon Award, the legendary Stevie Wonder closed the 2012 Billboard Music Awards performances with a grand collaboration alongside Alicia Keys.

Keys joined Wonder on stage for a set which included his hits "Higher Ground" and "Overjoyed," before performing a stripped-down version of her hit with Jay-Z, "Empire State of Mind."

Alicia Keys took a moment between their performance to honor Wonder with the Billboard Icon Award. Wonder follows in the footsteps of Neil Diamond, who was given the Icon Award at the 2011 ceremony.

Wonder continued by performing his new single, "Ten Billion Hearts," from his upcoming album of the same name. Last month, Wonder serenaded President Barack Obama and an intimate crowd with "Ten Billion Hearts" at a private fundraiser at the San Francisco home of billionaire Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com, according to USA Today.

After Wonder closed the show with "Superstition," Wonder stopped through the Billboard Music Award press room to announce that while working on his upcoming album, he's also working on a record label of his own, according to Billboard Senior Editor Gail Mitchell.
 

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Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder to Share Stage at 2012 Billboard Music Awards

Lineup for this year's Billboard Music Awards keeps growing. Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder are the latest stars added to the upcoming awards show. She is confirmed to present him with Billboard Icon Award before joining him on stage for a live performance.

Whoopi Goldberg, Swizz Beatz, Charlie Sheen, Jason Derulo, Zooey Deschanel and Kris Kristofferson are added as presenters. They join Lisa Marie Presley, Wiz Khalifa, Luke Bryan, Robin Thicke, Brandy, Monica, Miley Cyrus, Taio Cruz, Gavin DeGraw, Gladys Knight, Julianne Hough, Natasha Bedingfield and Jeremy Sisto.

2012 Billboard Music Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20 at 8/7c on ABC. The likes of Katy Perry, Usher, Chris Brown, Cee-Lo Green, Kelly Clarkson, Linkin Park, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood, The Wanted and LMFAO are going to perform live.

"Modern Family" stars Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell will serve as hosts. Jordin Sparks and John Legend will join forces for a performance dedicated to Whitney Houston. The late singer will be honored with Millennium Award to be accepted by her daughter Bobbi Kristina and her sister-in-law Pat Houston.

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