It was a big night for Canadian talent at the 2020 American Music Awards on Sunday night.
Justin Bieber kicked off the show with a reflective performance of “Lonely” followed by a crotch-grabbing version of “Holy” (without Chance the Rapper). He then joined fellow Canadian singer Shawn Mendes for their new collaboration “Monster.”
Mendes returned at the top of the third hour of the show for a passionate rendition of “Wonder.”
Before the broadcast, Bieber was named Favourite Male Artist - Pop/Rock.
His collaboration with country duo Dan + Shay, “10,000 Hours,” was named Favourite Country Song and Favourite Collaboration.
“Thank you, Justin, for being on this song with us. We love you,” said Shay Mooney in accepting the latter. (Dan + Shay also won the AMA for Favourite Duo or Group - Country.)
The night’s first winner was Canada’s The Weeknd, whose After Hours was named Favourite Album - Soul/R&B. Sporting bandages in keeping with the album's aesthetic, he went on to win Song - Soul/R&B for “Heartless” and Male Artist - Soul/R&B.
In a segment filmed Nov. 8th on the 4th Street bridge in downtown Los Angeles, The Weeknd performed part of his hit “In Your Eyes” (after a cameo by saxophonist Kenny G) followed by “Save Your Tears.”
The Weeknd will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February.
Artist of the Year went to Taylor Swift, who has won the award five times previously. She was also named Favourite Female Artist - Pop/Rock and won Favourite Music Video (for “cardigan”).
“You guys have been beyond wonderful all the years of my career but especially this one,” said Swift, who said she was busy re-recording her early songs. “I’m really, really lucky because of you.”
Other big winners were Doja Cat (New Artist of the Year and Female Artist - Soul/R&B), BTS (Duo or Group - Pop Rock and Social Artist) and Bad Bunny, who won Favourite Latin Male Artist and Album (for YHLQMDLG).
The AMAs show was hosted by Taraji P. Henson in a mostly empty Microsoft Theatre in L.A. due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Other performances during the prime time show included Katy Perry and Darius Rucker (“Only Love”); Megan Thee Stallion (“Body”); Billie Eilish (“Therefore I Am”); Jennifer Lopez and Maluma (“Pa' Ti” and “Lonely”); Dan + Shay (“I Should Probably Go To Bed”); Lil Baby (“Emotionally Scarred”); Bebe Rexha ft. Doja Cat (“Baby, I’m Jealous”); and Machine Gun Kelly ft. Travis Barker (“Bloody Valentine” and “My Ex’s Best Friend”).
Nelly did a medley to mark the 20th anniversary of his debut album Country Grammar and Bell Biv Devoe celebrated the 30th anniversary of their Poison album.
Dua Lipa did “Levitating” in a pre-taped performance from London’s Royal Albert Hall and BTS closed the show with two different performances taped in South Korea.
Check out all the winners below:
ARTIST OF THE YEARJustin BieberPost MaloneRoddy RicchTaylor Swift - WINNERThe Weeknd
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEARLewis CapaldiDoja Cat - WINNERDaBabyLil BabyRoddy RicchMegan Thee Stallion
COLLABORATION OF THE YEARCardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours” - WINNERLady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage Remix”
FAVOURITE SOCIAL ARTISTBTS - WINNERBillie EilishEXOAriana GrandeNCT 127
FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEODoja Cat, “Say So”Future ft. Drake, “Life Is Good”Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”Taylor Swift, “cardigan” - WINNERThe Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCKJustin Bieber - WINNERPost MaloneThe Weeknd
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCKDua LipaLady GagaTaylor Swift - WINNER
FAVOURITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCKBTS - WINNERJonas BrothersMaroon 5
FAVOURITE ALBUM – POP/ROCKHarry Styles, Fine Line - WINNERTaylor Swift, folkloreThe Weeknd, After Hours
FAVOURITE SONG – POP/ROCKLewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now” - WINNERPost Malone, “Circles”Roddy Ricch, “The Box”The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRYKane Brown - WINNERLuke CombsMorgan Wallen
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRYGabby BarrettMiranda LambertMaren Morris - WINNER
FAVOURITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRYDan + Shay - WINNERFlorida Georgia LineOld Dominion
FAVOURITE ALBUM – COUNTRYLuke Combs, What You See Is What You GetBlake Shelton, Fully Loaded: God’s Country - WINNERMorgan Wallen, If I Know Me
FAVOURITE SONG – COUNTRYDan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours” - WINNERMaren Morris, “The Bones”Blake Shelton (Duet with Gwen Stefani), “Nobody But You”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOPDaBabyJuice WRLD - WINNERRoddy Ricch
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOPCardi BNicki Minaj - WINNERMegan Thee Stallion
FAVOURITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOPLil Baby, My TurnLil Uzi Vert, Eternal AtakeRoddy Ricch, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial - WINNER
FAVOURITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOPCardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” - WINNERDaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&BChris BrownJohn LegendThe Weeknd - WINNER
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&BJhene AikoDoja Cat - WINNERSummer Walker
FAVOURITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&BDoja Cat, Hot PinkSummer Walker, Over ItThe Weeknd, After Hours - WINNER
FAVOURITE SONG – SOUL/R&BChris Brown ft. Drake, "No Guidance"Summer Walker, "Playing Games"The Weeknd, “Heartless” - WINNER
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – LATINBad Bunny - WINNERJ BalvinOzuna
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – LATINBecky G - WINNERKAROL GRosalía
FAVOURITE ALBUM – LATINAnuel AA, EmmanuelBad Bunny, Las que no iban a salirBad Bunny, YHLQMDLG - WINNER
FAVOURITE SONG – LATINBad Bunny “Vete”Black Eyed Peas X J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”KAROL G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa” - WINNER
FAVOURITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCKBillie EilishTame Impalatwenty one pilots - WINNER
FAVOURITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARYLewis CapaldiJonas Brothers - WINNERMaroon 5
FAVOURITE ARTIST – EDMKygoLady Gaga - WINNERMarshmello
FAVOURITE SOUNDTRACKBirds of Prey: The Album - WINNERFrozen IITrolls: World Tour