While Britney Spears made a couple of cameo performances with both Rihanna (at the start of the show) and Nicki Minaj (at the close of the show), Beyoncé performed all by herself last night at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. Well, technically that’s not true … she actually had about 100 kickass back-up dancers performing with her as well :) Bey performed her new single Run the World (Girls) after she was paid tribute to by a host of people … including her parents Tina & Matthew Knowles, U2 frontman Bono, First Lady Michelle Obama and more! Beyoncé also collected the Billboard Millennium Award so, yeah, it was a pretty sweet night for Miss B. Check out below photos and video from Beyoncé‘s performance last night.

Beyoncé’s reign is stronger than ever — that was clear at tonight’s Billboard Music Awards on ABC, where the star received the Billboard Millennium Award and performed her new single, “Run the World (Girls),” for the first time on network television. Several of Beyoncé’s close relatives, famous friends and collaborators — including First Lady Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, The-Dream, U2′s Bono, Babyface, Stevie Wonder, Solange and her son Daniel “Juelz” Smith, Barbra Streisand, Matthew Knowles and Tina Knowles — took part in the Billboard Millennium Award presentation with pre-recorded personal messages about the singer’s accomplishments and impact … The honoree herself then took the stage in a barely-there silver number to perform “Run the World (Girls),” the lead single from her fourth studio album, “4,” for the first time ever. Virtual duplicates of Queen B rocked behind her until an impressive 100 back-up dancers emerged to rock collectively to the girl-power anthem. After the show-stopping performance, Tina Knowles and Juelz presented Beyoncé with the Billboard Millenium Award, as the singer breathlessly thanked her parents, Destiny Child’s Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and even former members of the group, LaToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. Beyoncé ended her speech by shouting out her husband — “I love me some Jay-Z,” she said, as the rap star smiled and nodded and a collective “aw” could be heard in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena and on social networks.

Without question, Beyoncé delivered the most exciting, most entertaining performance of the night. The tribute to her was really amazing and it reminded me of how long she has been in the biz. Beyoncé has actually achieved so much success over the many years … I mean, let’s not forget the amazing Destiny’s Child years. I think it was very, very cool of Bey to thank ALL of the members of DC (well, except for Farrah Franklin but she don’t really count, to be honest). I always kinda roll my eyes when “Millennium” awards are handed out … but Beyoncé is deff deserving of many accolades and honors. She is an amazing performer — all around. Congrats and love goes out to Beyoncé on this latest achievement. Honestly, it is much deserved.

What did y’all think of Beyoncé‘s performance last night? Did you love it?

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source, Source]