Kelly Clarkson opened the Billboard Music Awards by drawing attention to gun violence

“We need to do better. We are failing our children, we are failing our communities. We are failing our families.”

May 20, 2018

With tears streaming down her face, Kelly Clarkson opened the 2018 Billboard Music Awards by honoring the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting, which left 10 people dead and another 10 wounded.

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"Tonight they wanted me to say that obviously, we are going to pray for the victims, we are going to pray for their families, but they also wanted me to do a moment of silence, and I'm so sick of moments of silences," Clarkson said.

"It's not working. Like obviously. So, sorry. So why don't we not do a moment of silence? Why don't we do a moment of action? Why don't we do a moment of change? Why don't we change what's happening?"

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Watch her full speech above.

Kelly Clarkson opened the Billboard Music Awards by drawing attention to gun violence