Taylor Swift and The Weeknd top American Music Awards
Taylor Swift and The Weeknd were triple winners at the 2020 American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (November 22, 2020).
The Weeknd kicked off the big show by landing best soul/R&B album for After Hours, which he dedicated to “the late, great Prince”, and he later added Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B, and Favorite Song – Soul/R&B for Heartless to his haul.
However, he lost out on the top prize of Artist of the Year to Swift, who also scored Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock and Favorite Music Video for cardigan, and delivered her acceptance speech remotely from her old studio, revealing she had been busy re-recording her first six albums in a bid to reclaim the rights to her music following Scooter Braun’s purchase and subsequent sale of her masters.
“The reason I’m not there tonight is I’m actually re-recording all of my old music in the studio where I originally recorded it, so it’s been amazing, I can’t wait for you to hear it,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber had plenty of reason to celebrate after claiming Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Song – Country for their tune 10,000 Hours, in addition to respective wins for Favorite Duo or Group – Country and Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock.
K-Pop superstars BTS also had a big night, picking up their second consecutive win for Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock, as well as Favorite Social Artist, and closing out the event from their native South Korea with their latest track Life Goes On, and their mega hit Dynamite.
Justin Bieber opened the ceremony with a song medley, and teamed up with Shawn Mendes to stage the live debut of their new single, Monster.
The American Music Awards, voted for by fans, was hosted by Taraji P. Henson from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, where a small, socially-distanced live audience enjoyed other performance highlights from Megan Thee Stallion, Katy Perry and Darius Rucker, Bell Biv DeVoe, and Jennifer Lopez and Maluma, who turned up the heat with steamy renditions of Pa’ Ti and Lonely.
The full list of winners is:
Artist of the Year:
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year:
Doja Cat
Collaboration of the Year:
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber – 10,000 Hours
Favorite Social Artist:
BTS
Favorite Music Video:
Taylor Swift – cardigan
Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock:
Justin Bieber
Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock:
Taylor Swift
Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock:
BTS
Favorite Album – Pop/Rock:
Harry Styles, Fine Line
Favorite Song – Pop/Rock:
Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
Favorite Male Artist – Country:
Kane Brown
Favorite Female Artist – Country:
Maren Morris
Favorite Duo or Group – Country:
Dan + Shay
Favorite Album – Country:
Blake Shelton – Fully Loaded: God’s Country
Favorite Song – Country:
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber – 10,000 Hours
Favorite Male Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop:
Juice WRLD
Favorite Female Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop:
Nicki Minaj
Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop:
Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial
Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop:
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – WAP
Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B:
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B:
Doja Cat
Favorite Album – Soul/R&B:
The Weeknd – After Hours
Favorite Song – Soul/R&B:
The Weeknd – Heartless
Favorite Male Artist – Latin:
Bad Bunny
Favorite Female Artist – Latin:
Becky G
Favorite Album – Latin:
Bad Bunny – YHLQMDLG
Favorite Song – Latin:
KAROL G & Nicki Minaj – Tusa
Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock:
twenty one pilots
Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary:
Jonas Brothers
Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational:
Lauren Daigle
Favorite Artist – EDM:
Lady Gaga
Favorite Soundtrack:
Birds of Prey: The Album
