There were big moments at the just concluded American Music Awards which was held on the 19th of November, 2017. Bruno Mars took the top prize at the awards. Mars, the retro star who found fresh success with the funky beats and R&B harmonies of his latest album “24K Magic,” accepted Artiste of the Year with a brief but enthusiastic speech recorded in a moving minivan, as Mars explained he was traveling. The show also paid glowing tribute to legendary divas, Diana Ross and the late Whitney Houston.
Ross — whose daughter, “Black-ish” television series star Tracee Ellis Ross, was the awards’ host — was introduced by a video from Barack and Michelle Obama, with the former president revealing that the Motown great’s music was still frequently on rotation at their post-White House home.
The show is not shy about being hyperbolic in the writing, as when a 25th anniversary salute to “The Bodyguard” by Christina Aguilera was billed as “destined to become one of the American Music Awards’ most iconic performances.” Can a TV medley be pre-iconic? Yet, regardless of whether the performance goes down as one of the AMAs’ all-timers, Aguilera delivered. Her first follow-through came in her nearly unrecognizable appearance, which had her Draco-Malfoy-with-a-mullet slicked-back hair framing a more au naturel look. The vocals were equally untreated, and if Aguilera stretches out the melisma even more than Whitney Houston did — who knew “way” is a 17-syllable word? — you could be glad “I’m Every Woman” was assigned to someone who really does have the combined lungpower of, like, every woman.
The awards presented a lifetime achievement award to 73-year-old Ross, the towering voice of Motown, who ended the show with a medley of her hits starting with gay anthem “I’m Coming Out.”
The awards also honored Whitney Houston to mark 25 years since her blockbuster film and soundtrack “The Bodyguard,” which featured her classic cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
The American Music Awards select winners based on fan voting, unlike the more prestigious Grammys which are decided by professionals.
See full list below.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Chainsmokers
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars — WINNER
Ed Sheeran
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
James Arthur
Niall Horan — WINNER
Julia Michaels
Post Malone
Rae Sremmurd
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, “Closer”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne, “I’m The One”
Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar, “Don’t Wanna Know”
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk, “Starboy”
TOUR OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Coldplay — WINNER
U2
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, “Despacito”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like” — WINNER
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Drake
Bruno Mars — WINNER
Ed Sheeran
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Alessia Cara
Lady Gaga — WINNER
Rihanna
FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons — WINNER
FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Drake, More Life
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic — WINNER
The Weeknd, Starboy
FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, “Closer”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito” — WINNER
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Keith Urban — WINNER
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood — WINNER
FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
Florida Georgia Line
Little Big Town — WINNER
Old Dominion
FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know
Chris Stapleton, From a Room:, Vol. 1
Keith Urban, Ripcord — WINNER
FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”
Jon Pardi, “Dirt on My Boots”
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” — WINNER
FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Drake — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
Migos
FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Drake, More Life
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. — WINNER
Migos, Culture
FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne, “I’m The One” — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.”
Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane, “Black Beatles”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Childish Gambino
Bruno Mars — WINNER
The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Beyonce — WINNER
Kehlani
Rihanna
FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Childish Gambino, Awaken My Love!
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic — WINNER
The Weeknd, Starboy
FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Khalid, “Location”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like” — WINNER
The Weeknd, “Starboy”
FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Imagine Dragons
Linkin Park — WINNER
Twenty One Pilots
FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Bruno Mars
Shawn Mendes — WINNER
Ed Sheeran
FAVORITE ARTIST – LATIN
Luis Fonsi
Daddy Yankee
Shakira — WINNER
FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle — WINNER
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin
FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
The Chainsmokers — WINNER
Calvin Harris
DJ Snake
TOP SOUNDTRACK
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2
Moana — WINNER
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