Award Shows

AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS: Four Big Winners

Written by KingCnote on November 23, 2020

Four artists were the big winners at Sunday’s 2020 American Music Awards, which took place in front of a live, but small, socially distanced and COVID-tested audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Taylor Swift, who won Artist of the Year, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Dan + Shay each took home three trophies.

New Artist of the Year Doja Cat won two, as did BTS, Nicki Minaj and Bad Bunny.

Cardi B. made a bit of AMAs history, when she became the first artist to win Favorite Song twice in the Rap/Hip-Hop category, with “WAP” following “Bodak Yellow,” which was honored two years ago.

Taraji P. Henson hosted the show and even tried a dance number at the start her appearance, shaking along to “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “Savage” and “WAP.”

The performances leaned heavily on team-ups. Justin Bieber kicked things off singing “Holy” on his own, but then brought on Benny Blanco for “Lonely” and Shawn Mendes for their new duet single, “Monster.” Katy Perry welcomed country star and Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker for”Only Love,” which she dedicated to her father. Bebe Rexha andDoja Cat teamed up on “Baby, I’m Jealous,” Jennifer Lopez was joined by Maluma for “Pa’ Ti” and “Lonely,” from the upcoming film Marry Me, Cardi B.and Megan Thee Stallion worked out on”WAP” and Machine Gun Kelly and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker did a guitar-drums duets on “Bloody Valentine” and “My Ex’s Best Friend.”

Even Cedric the Entertainer got into the act, by helping Nelly out on a hits medley. It was one of two throwback performances, with Bell Biv DeVoe following Nelly with a medley of three of their hits.

Other performances included The Weeknd, who took to the street sporting facial bandages to perform “Save Your Tears” and — with help from saxophonist Kenny G — their new remix of “In Your Eyes,” amidst fireworks. Lewis Capaldi (“Before You Go”), Billie Eilish (“Therefore I Am”), Dua Lipa (“Levitating”), Dan + Shay (“I Should Probably Go To Bed”), Lil Baby (“Emotionally Scarred”), Shawn Mendes (“Wonder”) and BTS (“Life Goes On” and “Dynamite”).

Swift, who was the focus of last year’s AMAs, when she was named Artist of the Decade and sang a six-song medley, didn’t perform, or even attend, this year. Accepting her first award remotely, she said she was in the midst of re-recording her early albums in the same studio where they were originally created.

COMPLETE WINNERS LIST, WITH NOMINEES (Winner in bold)

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
Roddy Ricch
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lewis Capaldi
Doja Cat
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Megan Thee Stallion

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé, “Savage Remix”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS
Billie Eilish
EXO
Ariana Grande
NCT 127

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Doja Cat, “Say So”
Future featuring Drake “Life Is Good”
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Taylor Swift, “Cardigan”
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Dua Lipa
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
BTS
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Harry Styles, “Fine Line”
Taylor Swift, “Folklore”
The Weeknd, “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”
Post Malone, “Circles”
Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Luke Combs, “What You See Is What You Get”
Blake Shelton, “Fully Loaded: God’s Country”
Morgan Wallen, “If I Know Me”

FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Maren Morris, “The Bones”
Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, “Nobody But You”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
DaBaby
Juice WRLD
Roddy Ricch

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
Megan Thee Stallion

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Lil Baby, “My Turn”
Lil Uzi Vert, “Eternal Atake”
Roddy Ricch, “Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial”

FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Roddy Ricch, “The Box”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown
John Legend
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Jhene Aiko
Doja Cat
Summer Walker

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Doja Cat, “Hot Pink”
Summer Walker, “Over It”
The Weeknd, “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown featuring Drake, “No Guidance”
Summer Walker, “Playing Games”
The Weeknd, “Heartless”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – LATIN
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – LATIN
Becky G
Karol G
Rosalía

FAVORITE ALBUM – LATIN
Anuel AA, ”Emmanuel”
Bad Bunny, “Las Que No Iban a Salir”
Bad Bunny, “YHLQMDLG”

FAVORITE SONG – LATIN
Bad Bunny, “Vete”
Black Eyed Peas and J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
Karol G Nicki Minaj – “Tusa”

FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Billie Eilish
Tame Impala
Twenty One Pilots

FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Lewis Capaldi
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5