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 YEAR
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
Roddy Ricch
Taylor Swift - WINNER
The Weeknd
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lewis Capaldi
Doja Cat - WINNER
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Megan Thee Stallion
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours” - WINNER
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage Remix”
FAVOURITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS - WINNER
Billie Eilish
EXO
Ariana Grande
NCT 127
FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO
Doja Cat, “Say So”
Future ft. Drake, “Life Is Good”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Taylor Swift, “cardigan” - WINNER
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber - WINNER
Post Malone
The Weeknd
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Dua Lipa
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift - WINNER
FAVOURITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
BTS - WINNER
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
FAVOURITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Harry Styles, Fine Line - WINNER
Taylor Swift, folklore
The Weeknd, After Hours
FAVOURITE SONG – POP/ROCK
Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now” - WINNER
Post Malone, “Circles”
Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kane Brown - WINNER
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris - WINNER
FAVOURITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay - WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
FAVOURITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Luke Combs, What You See Is What You Get
Blake Shelton, Fully Loaded: God’s Country - WINNER
Morgan Wallen, If I Know Me
FAVOURITE SONG – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours” - WINNER
Maren Morris, “The Bones”
Blake Shelton (Duet with Gwen Stefani), “Nobody But You”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
DaBaby
Juice WRLD - WINNER
Roddy Ricch
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B
Nicki Minaj - WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion
FAVOURITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Lil Baby, My Turn
Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake
Roddy Ricch, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial - WINNER
FAVOURITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” - WINNER
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown
John Legend
The Weeknd - WINNER
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Jhene Aiko
Doja Cat - WINNER
Summer Walker
FAVOURITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Doja Cat, Hot Pink
Summer Walker, Over It
The Weeknd, After Hours - WINNER
FAVOURITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown ft. Drake, "No Guidance"
Summer Walker, "Playing Games"
The Weeknd, “Heartless” - WINNER
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – LATIN
Bad Bunny - WINNER
J Balvin
Ozuna
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – LATIN
Becky G - WINNER
KAROL G
Rosalía
FAVOURITE ALBUM – LATIN
Anuel AA, Emmanuel
Bad Bunny, Las que no iban a salir
Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG - WINNER
FAVOURITE SONG – LATIN
Bad Bunny “Vete”
Black Eyed Peas X J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
KAROL G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa” - WINNER
FAVOURITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Billie Eilish
Tame Impala
twenty one pilots - WINNER
FAVOURITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Lewis Capaldi
Jonas Brothers - WINNER
Maroon 5
FAVOURITE ARTIST – EDM
Kygo
Lady Gaga - WINNER
Marshmello
FAVOURITE SOUNDTRACK
Birds of Prey: The Album - WINNER
Frozen II
Trolls: World Tour