2020 has drastically changed award shows as we know it, but the 2020 American Music Awards nevertheless delivered an outstanding celebration of the arts.
With COVID-19 protocols in place, the Taraji P. Henson emceed the evening’s ceremonies from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday (November 22). With multiple live performances, in person presenters and a lucky few got to watch it all go down live as part of the small audience, it was a night to remember filled with standout performances, big wins and heartfelt speeches.
Justin Bieber kicked off the evening with a medley of “Lonely” and “Holy,” and was joined by Shawn Mendes to perform their new collab/duet “Monster.” Jennifer Lopez and Maluma also lit up the stage with the world premiere performance of “Pa’ Ti” and “Lonely.” BTS also gave a smashing performance all the way from South Korea, starting off with their latest single “Life Goes On” before perform their all English track “Dynamite.” The Weeknd teamed up with Kenny G to perform “In Your Eye” and “Save You Tears” in downtown L.A.
The AMAs also marked Katy Perry’s return to the stage since becoming a mom – she performed “Only Love” with Darius Rucker. The evenings performers also include Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Bebe Rexha, Doja Cat, Nelly and more.
Cardi B made history at the AMAs by bagging Favorite Song in the Rap/Hip Hop category twice – she’s the first-ever artist to do so. Becky G also made history by becoming the first-ever Favorite Female Latin Artist – a brand new category at the AMAs. BTS won two of the fan-voted awards – Favorite Social Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Duo or Group.
Taylor Swift took home the top prize for the night – Artist of The Year – and also won Music Video of the Year and Favorite Female Pop Artist. However, she wasn’t there to accept the awards in person for a good reason: “I love you so much. The reason I’m not there tonight is I’m actually re-recording all of my old music in the studio in which we originally recorded it.”
Check out the complete list of winners below:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
Roddy Ricch
***WINNER*** — Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lewis Capaldi
***WINNER*** — Doja Cat
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Megan Thee Stallion
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
***WINNER*** — Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain On Me”
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé “Savage Remix”
FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
***WINNER*** — BTS
Billie Eilish
EXO
Ariana Grande
NCT 127
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Doja Cat “Say So”
Future ft. Drake “Life Is Good”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain On Me”
***WINNER*** — Taylor Swift “cardigan”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
***WINNER*** — Justin Bieber
Post Malone
The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Dua Lipa
Lady Gaga
***WINNER*** — Taylor Swift
FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
***WINNER*** — BTS
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
***WINNER*** — Harry Styles – Fine Line
Taylor Swift – folklore
The Weeknd – After Hours
FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved”
***WINNER*** — Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now”
Post Malone “Circles”
Roddy Ricch “The Box”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
***WINNER*** — Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
***WINNER*** — Maren Morris
FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
***WINNER*** — Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get
***WINNER*** — Blake Shelton – Fully Loaded: God’s Country
Morgan Wallen – If I Know Me
FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
***WINNER*** — Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours”
Maren Morris “The Bones”
Blake Shelton (Duet with Gwen Stefani) “Nobody But You”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
DaBaby
***WINNER*** — Juice WRLD
Roddy Ricch
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
***WINNER*** — Megan Thee Stallion
FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Lil Baby – My Turn
Lil Uzi Vert – Eternal Atake
***WINNER*** — Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial
FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
***WINNER*** — Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
Roddy Ricch “The Box”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown
John Legend
***WINNER*** — The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Jhene Aiko
***WINNER*** — Doja Cat
Summer Walker
FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Doja Cat, Hot Pink
Summer Walker, Over It
***WINNER*** — The Weeknd, After Hours
FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown ft. Drake “No Guidance”
Summer Walker “Playing Games”
***WINNER*** — The Weeknd “Heartless”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – LATIN
***WINNER*** — Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – LATIN
***WINNER*** — Becky G
KAROL G
Rosalía
FAVORITE ALBUM – LATIN
Anuel AA – Emmanuel
Bad Bunny – Las que no iban a salir
***WINNER*** — Bad Bunny – YHLQMDLG
FAVORITE SONG – LATIN
Bad Bunny “Vete”
Black Eyed Peas X J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
***WINNER*** — KAROL G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Billie Eilish
Tame Impala
***WINNER*** — twenty one pilots
FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Lewis Capaldi
***WINNER*** — Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
***WINNER*** — Lauren Daigle
for KING & COUNTRY
Kanye West
FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
Kygo
***WINNER*** — Lady Gaga
Marshmello
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
***WINNER*** — Birds of Prey: The Album
Frozen II
Trolls: World Tour
Congratulations to all the winners!
