Billie Eilish, SZA, BeyoncĂ©, Eminem, Post Malone, Becky G and Gracie Abrams were among the night’s winners at the Las Vegas ceremony.
After dozens of A-listers walked the purple carpet, host Jennifer Lopez opened the Monday night show with a fierce performance, dancing to some of the biggest hits from this past year, 23 songs in six minutes to be exact. Eilish, who couldn’t attend the show in person due to her world tour, dominated the night, sweeping seven awards, including artist of the year, album of the year, song of the year, favourite touring artist, favourite female pop artist, favourite pop album and favourite pop song.
Beyoncé, who also wasn’t there, took home two awards for favorite female country artist and favorite country album. Her wins marked the first time the 11-time AMA winner had been recognized in the country music category.
SZA won the awards for favourite R&B song and favourite female R&B artist. Even though Eminem also couldn’t attend the show, he took home the awards for favourite male hip-hop artist and favourite hip-hop album. Some of the night’s other winners included Becky G for favourite female Latin artist, Gracie Abrams for best new artist, Post Malone for favourite male country artist and favourite country song, Doechii for social song of the year, and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars for favourite music video and collaboration of the year. Bruno also took home the favourite male pop artist award and Gaga won favourite dance/electronic artist.
Janet Jackson, who received the Icon Award, showed the audience how much of an icon she really is, performing a medley of some of her biggest hits throughout her career, including “Someone to Call My Lover” and “All for You.”
Rod Stewart later received the Lifetime Achievement Award. “The reason I got into it was because I had this burning ambition to sing. It’s all I wanted to do. I didn’t want to be rich or famous, and here I am a few years later, picking up this wonderful award. Thank you so much,” he told the crowd during his acceptance speech. He then performed his hit song “Forever Young.”
Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson, Alex Warren and Reneé Rapp also took to the AMAs stage throughout the show for electric performances of some of their biggest hits. Alix Earle, Cara Delevingne, Ciara, Dan + Shay, Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles, Kai Cenat, Megan Moroney, Nikki Glaser, Shaboozey, Tiffany Haddish and Wayne Brady were also among the night’s presenters.
Heading into the ceremony, Kendrick Lamar led the nominees with 10, with Malone following with eight nods, and Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey with seven AMA nominations each. Mars, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA and Taylor Swift also each earned six nominations.