American Music Awards 2016: All the winners, performances and red carpet action
FROM Nicki Minaj’s sexy act to Selena Gomez’s powerful speech — these are the surprising and awkward moments of the American Music Awards.
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TALK about sex appeal. Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj have sizzled onstage at the American Music Awards, while pop star Selena Gomez made a powerful statement about body image.
“I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram — I want to see what’s in here,” Gomez told the crowd, pointing at her heart.
It came after Grande and Minaj put on a on a provocative display during their jungle-themed performance of Side To Side.
With her signature high ponytail in full force, Grande and Minaj amped up the raunch factor during an otherwise tame AMAs.
The night was owned by Drake, who broke Michael Jackson’s record for most AMA nominations after scoring 13 nominations. Bieber, who performed from his tour in Zurich, Switzerland, also won four awards.
Selena Gomez, who lost artist of the year to Ariana Grande but won favourite female artist - pop/rock, gave a heartfelt speech onstage that earned a loud applause from the audience/
SELENA GOMEZ: ‘I WAS ABSOLUTELY BROKEN’
Hands to Myself singer Selena Gomez made a powerful statement about mental health, body image and social media while accepting her award for Favourite Female Artist.
“I think it’s safe to say most of you know a lot of my life whether I like it or not. And I had to stop,” Gomez, 24, told the crowd.
“I had everything and I was absolutely broken. And I kept it all together enough to never let you down.
“I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram — I want to see what’s in here,” Gomez said, pointing at her heart.
“I’m not trying to get validation. Nor do I need it anymore,” Gomez told the crowd.
“If you are broken you do not have to stay broken.”
Wearing an understated red Prada gown, the AMAs was Gomez’s first red carpet appearance since her stint in rehab for anxiety, depression and Lupus.
She had been in treatment at a facility in Tennessee since August 30 when she announced a career hiatus.
DRAKE MIMES TAY TAY IN STEAMY APPLE AD
Not since the Superbowl has an ad break provoked more reaction than the main event.
Fans of Drake were divided about his new Apple Music ad which featured the ripped rap star pumping iron to Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood.
Fans immediately claimed the ad was proof that Tay Tay and Drake are now dating.
Meantime, Drake added to his list of awards by snagging the Favourite Rap/Hip Hop Artist award from Fetty Wap and Future.
Drake’s second award speech was followed by Justin Bieber’s “live” performance of Let Me Love You from Bieber’s concert in Italy, which involved some creative freezing of time considering it was close to 4am in the European country.
Drake and Bieber were the top winners at the AMAs, claiming four awards each.
ZAYN’S SOLO TRIUMPH
He was the first One Direction member to jump the boy band ship and Zayn Malik couldn’t wait to make that point when he won New Artist of The Year.
“This one just has my name on it, right?” Malik said.
“I didn’t expect anybody to still vote for me ... I will put in on my fireplace.”
His girlfriend, AMAs host Hadid, didn’t get a shout-out in his acceptance speech but did get a big hug backstage from her man.
CHRISSY TAKES AIM AT TRUMP AGAIN
It was no surprise the politically opinionated model Chrissy Teigen referenced the recent US presidential elections when introducing the performance of her husband John Legend.
She reignited her Twitter account on the weekend to sledge President-elect Donald Trump for demanding an apology from the cast of Hamilton for addressing Vice President Mike Pence at the end of Friday night’s performance.
“On the heels of a really interesting f...ed up f...ing election, we could all use a little love tonight,” she said.
LADY GAGA
Once known as the scene-stealer of an awards show, Lady Gaga went acoustic for her AMAs performance spot.
Her performance of the ballad Million Reasons featured the provocative pop princess focusing more on her guitar playing and wringing maximum emotional expression out of her face than shocking an audience which politely took to their feet but sounded soft on the applause.
Meantime, Florida Georgia Line were named the Country Duo or Group of the Year after presenter, broadway star Idina Menzel gave a shout-out to the Hamilton cast.
It came after the controversy this weekend where Donald Trump’s running mate, VP-elect Mike Pence, was booed at a performance of the hit stage show in New York.
“I love you Hamilton,” she said.
Sting celebrated his AMAs Merit award by repricing the set he performed at the AFL Grand Final in October, kicking off with latest single I Can’t Stop Thinking About You, followed by classic hits Message In A Bottle and Every Breath You Take.
DRAKE RULES WITH VIEWS
Earlier, Drake opened his trophy count with Views named Best Rap/Hop Hop Album.
His list of thank yous included Views’ producers, the fans and the city of Toronto, along with his former Degrassi co-star Nina Dobrev, who presented him with the award.
The hip hop superstar also gave a shout out to his dad Dennis Graham, who was his date.
“For our genre, I just like to keep things excited and keep making music. Shout out to everybody that’s trying to do the same thing,” Drake said.
EARLY WINNERS
Chart-slaying American pair Twenty One Pilots won the first award for the night, named Best Pop/Rock Duo.
Bruno Mars and his crew opened the show with a slick version of his latest hit 24K Magic while Horan dialled the energy down with his heartfelt acoustic performance of debut solo ballad This Town.
He was immediately followed by girl group Fifth Harmony, whose choreography was a shambolic mess when they weren’t executing the obligatory stage strut. But at least they managed to (mostly) stay in tune.
Hadid and her co-host Pharoah must have mentioned “it’s all about the music” at least four times in their opening monologue but it turns out they were mostly right.
TEEN DREAMS
The breakthrough of talented teen Shawn Mendes was celebrated with a hits medley, the 18-year-old switching from guitar on Treat You Better to piano for Mercy.
His performance was punctuated by shots of audience members messing up the lyrics as they sang along.
Controversial hatmaking duo The Chainsmokers won the Best Electronic Dance Music and while they have been hitting the headlines with their outrageous opinions of themselves in recent months, the only scandal they brought to their AMAs speech was a few expletives.
GIGI HADID DOES MELANIA TRUMP
Supermodel Gigi Hadid’s impression of future First Lady Melania Trump divided viewers.
With a heavy pout and a truly terrible accent, Hadid seemingly tried to poke fun at how Melania famously copied some of Michelle Obama’s speech during the Republican National Convention in July.
“I love my husband, President Barack Obama and our children Sasha and Malia,” Hadid said, impersonating Melania.
And there was another awkward moment imearly on when Hadid’s ex stepsisters, comedians Sarah and Erin Foster, took to the AMAs stage to introduce Niall Horan.
Their dad, Grammy-winning music composer David Foster divorced Hadid’s mother, Yolanda.
Hollywood is a tangled web, you guys.
CHRISSY, CIARA STUN IN DARING FROCKS
As if Hadid’s see-through dress wasn’t enough for to heat up the AMAS red carpet. Swimsuit model Chrissy Teigen made a splash by wearing a daring gown with a revealing split ... and no knickers.
The side of her dress was held together by a single safety pin as she left little to the imagination.
1, 2 Step singer Ciara proudly showed off her growing baby bump as she strutted the ruby rug, posing with her hands tenderly cradling her belly.
PRINCE TRIBUTE
A wholly unexpected award at this year’s AMAs was Prince’s Purple Rain named the Soundtrack of the Year.
It is the third time the 1984 record has won in the category and seemed to satisfy the organisers desire to pay tribute to the late pop superstar.
His sister Tyka Nelson accepted the trophy — which bears a striking resemblance to the dangerously pointed ARIA Awards which will be given out on Wednesday.
She said it had always been his goal to be remembered as one of the most prolific artists of his generation.
“With 934 titles to his credit and counting, he’s done just that,” Prince’s emotional sister said.
2016 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES & WINNERS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande (WON)
Rihanna
Carrie Underwood
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Alessia Cara
The Chainsmokers
DNCE
Shawn Mendes
Zayn Malik (WON)
COLLABORATION
Chainsmokers ft. Data — “Don’t Let Me Down”
Drake ft. Wizkid/Kyla — “One Dance”
Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign — “Work From Home” (WON)
Rihanna ft. Drake — “Work”
Meghan Trainor ft. J. Legend — “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”
FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST — POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber (WON)
Drake
The Weeknd
FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST — POP/ROCK
Adele
Selena Gomez (WON)
Rihanna
FAVOURITE DUO OR GROUP — POP/ROCK
The Chainsmokers
DNCE
Twenty One Pilots (WON)
FAVOURITE ALBUM — POP/ROCK
Adele — “25”
Justin Bieber — “Purpose” (WON)
Drake — “Views”
FAVORITE SONG — POP/ROCK
Adele “Hello”
Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (WON)
Drake Featuring Wizkid & Kyla “One Dance”
FAVORITE ARTIST — RAP/HIP-HOP
Drake (WON)
Fetty Wap
Future
FAVOURITE ALBUM — RAP/HIP-HOP
Drake — “Views” (WON)
Drake and Future — “What a Time to Be Alive”
Fetty Wap — “Fetty Wap”
FAVOURITE ARTIST — EDM
The Chainsmokers (WON)
Calvin Harris
Major Lazer
TOP SOUNDTRACK
Purple Rain (WON)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Suicide Squad: The Album
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber, “Sorry” (WON)
Designer, “Panda”
Rihanna featuring Drake, “Work”
Originally published as American Music Awards 2016: All the winners, performances and red carpet action
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