Top 5 moments from KIIS-FM 102.7’s star-studded Jingle Ball at The Forum

The energy inside The Forum was explosive Friday night as the annual KIIS (102.7 FM) Jingle Ball made its return to the iconic Inglewood arena.

Each year, iHeartRadio’s holiday shindig showcases an array of pop, hip-hop and R&B stars introduced to the enthusiastic audiences by random celebrities and KIIS on-air personalities. This year’s line-up included Ed Sheeran, BTS, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Saweetie, The Kid Laroi, Black Eyed Peas, Anitta, Tate McRae, Bazzi, Dixie D’Amelio. Dua Lipa was also scheduled to perform, but the “Levitating” and “Break My Heart” singer posted in her Instagram stories just hours before the show that she would have to cancel her appearance because of laryngitis.

Jingle Ball was so in demand this year that KIIS gave away and sold tickets for seats in sections located in the top tiers of the arena behind the stage. That’s right, a totally obstructed view, just to be in the building and part of the high-energy action. After not having the show last year due to the pandemic, it was a massive party, though face masks were required to be worn indoors at all times and proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative tests were required to attend.

Here are the most memorable moments from the 2021 Jingle Ball.

BTS GETS A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

The secret to getting fans into the venue and in their seats early is having one of the biggest acts on the planet open the show. K-pop band BTS, which just played four sold out nights at SoFi Stadium next door to the Forum, hit the stage first and performed just two of its biggest hits: “Dynamite” and “Butter.” KIIS staff wheeled out a giant cake to surprise BTS member Kim Seok-jin (also known as Jin), who celebrated his 29th birthday that evening and fans took a moment to sing “Happy Birthday to You” to the blushing performer.

SAWEETIE HANDS OUT ICY CHAINS

Santa Clara rapper Saweetie said she was stoked to be at Jingle Ball in Southern California since there “ain’t nothing like a West Coast girl.” She twerked and rapped through radio hits like “Tap In,” “My Type” and her song “Best Friend,” which also features Doja Cat. Though Doja Cat was in the building, the pair did not perform it together. Her set was upbeat, fun and a little risque.

During her brand new song, “Icy Chain,” the 28-year-old performer and her backup dancers handed out a handful of necklaces in Tiffany signature light medium robin egg blue boxes to fans in the crowd who eagerly twerked along with them. We’re not sure if they were actually Tiffany necklaces, but that would be an incredibly generous prize for simply booty-shakin’ along.

ED SHEERAN DROPPED A NEW CHRISTMAS SONG

Though he didn’t twerk or have an elaborate stage set-up, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran won over the audience with just his voice and a guitar. The 30-year-old star came out with “Shivers” and played his sweet song, “Perfect,” to which the audience sang along so loudly it nearly drowned him out. “So, I put out a Christmas song today,” he told the crowd after playing “Shape of You.” “I’ve never played this live before and this is Jingle Ball and I have some jingle bells.” He then launched into “Merry Christmas,” which on record he duets with Elton John. He closed his turn with the bouncy “Bad Habits.”

LIL NAS X SLAYS IN A COWBOY HAT AND SKIRT

For these types of shows, the artists typically come out, play a couple of their biggest hits and then are on their way, but Lil Nas X brought a full-on production for his 25-minute set with insanely talented backup dancers and costume changes.

Donning a silver skirt with a matching vest and boots, the genre-blending performer came out strong with his marching band-fueled “Industry Baby” and celebrated the third anniversary of his breakthrough hit, “Old Town Road,” by throwing on a silver cowboy hat and boot-scootin’ his way across the stage as he lead the audience in a mass sing-a-long. His pleading vocals soared through “That’s What I Want” and Doja Cat came out to perform the pair’s song “Scoop.” He closed with the fiery “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).”

BLACK EYED PEAS CLOSE THE FEST WITH A DANCE PARTY

Following Lil Nas X, more than a quarter of the venue emptied out at 11 p.m., just before the Black Eyed Peas took the stage. Sure, it was a late night, but those folks missed out on one helluva festival-closing party. Fergie left the band in 2017, but the guys introduced their newest member J Rey Soul to the Jingle Ball crowd.

The group kicked things off with “Boom Boom Pow” and the bass shook the entire arena. The shaking and dancing continued with “RITMO,” which samples Corona’s ’90s dance hit “The Rhythm of the Night.” The sampling continued with “Pump It,” which features Dick Dale’s surf version of “Misirlou” and wrapped with a bit of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes.

“The Time (Dirty Bit)” famously borrows “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Righteous Brother Bill Medley and singer Jennifer Warnes and the quartet finished the evening with the bouncy “I Gotta Feeling,” which included a line from Britney Spears and Will.i.am’s “Scream & Shout.” “We’re so happy Britney is free,” Will.i.am said of the recent end of the pop star’s highly publicized and contentious conservatorship.

KIIS 102.7 FM’s Jingle Ball

When: Friday, Dec. 3

Where: The Forum, Inglewood