Taylor
Swift’s fans have done it again, voting her the American Music Awards artist of
the year for a third time.
Swift’s fans have done it again, voting her the American Music Awards artist of
the year for a third time.
Swift won
Sunday night’s top honor, giving her a leading four trophies as fans celebrated
the women of pop music.
Sunday night’s top honor, giving her a leading four trophies as fans celebrated
the women of pop music.
Swift
didn’t perform, but she was a constant presence on stage and the camera alighted
on her as she danced to stars like Kendrick Lamar and Luke Bryan. Her win came
after Katy Perry dazzled with her show-opening performance, Lady Gaga found
another inventive way to grab your attention, Rihanna starred with her mother
and Miley Cyrus closed the performances with the assistance of a giant
lip-syncing CGI kitty on her song “Wrecking Ball.”
didn’t perform, but she was a constant presence on stage and the camera alighted
on her as she danced to stars like Kendrick Lamar and Luke Bryan. Her win came
after Katy Perry dazzled with her show-opening performance, Lady Gaga found
another inventive way to grab your attention, Rihanna starred with her mother
and Miley Cyrus closed the performances with the assistance of a giant
lip-syncing CGI kitty on her song “Wrecking Ball.”
“I’m
really out of breath,” Swift said after taking the stage in a sequined
mini-dress. “I was really going hard with the ‘Wrecking Ball’ thing.”
really out of breath,” Swift said after taking the stage in a sequined
mini-dress. “I was really going hard with the ‘Wrecking Ball’ thing.”
The 23-year-old
pop star also won country album of the year for “Red” and favorite
female country artist and pop/rock artist. She spoke directly to her fans as
she picked up her final award of the night.
pop star also won country album of the year for “Red” and favorite
female country artist and pop/rock artist. She spoke directly to her fans as
she picked up her final award of the night.
“My
lucky number is 13, and so far you guys have made 2013 the most magical year of
my life so far,” she said. “I cannot thank you enough. This validates
that if you voted for this that we are heartbroken the same way and we fall in
love the same way and we’re happy the same way. And the fact that you would
listen to my music means … we’re pretty much in it together, aren’t we?”
lucky number is 13, and so far you guys have made 2013 the most magical year of
my life so far,” she said. “I cannot thank you enough. This validates
that if you voted for this that we are heartbroken the same way and we fall in
love the same way and we’re happy the same way. And the fact that you would
listen to my music means … we’re pretty much in it together, aren’t we?”
Justin
Timberlake was next with three wins — soul/R&B album, soul/R&B male
artist and pop/rock male artist. One Direction and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
won two awards and Rihanna was given the AMA’s first Icon Award to go with her
win as favorite soul/R&B female artist.
Timberlake was next with three wins — soul/R&B album, soul/R&B male
artist and pop/rock male artist. One Direction and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
won two awards and Rihanna was given the AMA’s first Icon Award to go with her
win as favorite soul/R&B female artist.
Rihanna
and her mother took center stage midway through the show when Monica Fenty
presented her pop star daughter with the first Icon Award at the Nokia Theatre
in Los Angeles.
and her mother took center stage midway through the show when Monica Fenty
presented her pop star daughter with the first Icon Award at the Nokia Theatre
in Los Angeles.
Bill
Maher, left, and Rihanna’s mother Monica Braithwaite, right, present the Icon
award to Rihanna …
Maher, left, and Rihanna’s mother Monica Braithwaite, right, present the Icon
award to Rihanna …
“Can
we talk about how cute Rihanna’s mom is?” Justin Timberlake asked while
accepting one of his three awards, before affecting a Caribbean accent.
“She’s so proud of the Icon. I am too, Rihanna, I love you.”
we talk about how cute Rihanna’s mom is?” Justin Timberlake asked while
accepting one of his three awards, before affecting a Caribbean accent.
“She’s so proud of the Icon. I am too, Rihanna, I love you.”
Fenty
told Rihanna how proud she was of her daughter’s success, saying, “I know
the journey in your career has not always been an easy one.”
told Rihanna how proud she was of her daughter’s success, saying, “I know
the journey in your career has not always been an easy one.”
Nickelodeon
star Ariana Grande was named favorite new artist, Florida Georgia Line won
single of the year for “Cruise” with Nelly in something of a
surprise, Luke Bryan won favorite male country artist, and favorite rap/hip-hop
act Macklemore & Ryan Lewis used their rap/hip-hop album acceptance speech
to send a message of tolerance.
star Ariana Grande was named favorite new artist, Florida Georgia Line won
single of the year for “Cruise” with Nelly in something of a
surprise, Luke Bryan won favorite male country artist, and favorite rap/hip-hop
act Macklemore & Ryan Lewis used their rap/hip-hop album acceptance speech
to send a message of tolerance.
Ben
Haggerty, the rapper known as Macklemore, accepted the award for favorite
rap/hip-hop album, then quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in a live satellite feed
from the rap group’s latest tour stop.
Haggerty, the rapper known as Macklemore, accepted the award for favorite
rap/hip-hop album, then quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in a live satellite feed
from the rap group’s latest tour stop.
“Due
to the fact that we are in Florida tonight accepting this award I want to
acknowledge Trayvon Martin and the hundreds and hundreds of kids each year that
are dying due to racial profiling and the violence that follows it,” he
said.
to the fact that we are in Florida tonight accepting this award I want to
acknowledge Trayvon Martin and the hundreds and hundreds of kids each year that
are dying due to racial profiling and the violence that follows it,” he
said.
Florida
became a focal point after Martin’s killer was freed under the state’s stand
your ground law. It was the first win of the night for Macklemore and Lewis,
whose album “The Heist” has been an unexpected hit and made them the AMA’s
top nominees with six.
became a focal point after Martin’s killer was freed under the state’s stand
your ground law. It was the first win of the night for Macklemore and Lewis,
whose album “The Heist” has been an unexpected hit and made them the AMA’s
top nominees with six.
Katy
Perry opened the show looking like a princess out of a classic Japanese
painting. Dressed in a traditional Japanese dress, Perry’s show-starting performance
of “Unconditionally” included dozens of colorfully clad dancers waved
fans, shadow danced in front of rice-paper screens and played the drums.
Perry opened the show looking like a princess out of a classic Japanese
painting. Dressed in a traditional Japanese dress, Perry’s show-starting performance
of “Unconditionally” included dozens of colorfully clad dancers waved
fans, shadow danced in front of rice-paper screens and played the drums.
One
Direction was at times drowned out by screams during an understated performance
of “Story of My Life.” Timberlake strapped on an acoustic guitar and
played a soulfully raucous version of “Drink You Away.”
Direction was at times drowned out by screams during an understated performance
of “Story of My Life.” Timberlake strapped on an acoustic guitar and
played a soulfully raucous version of “Drink You Away.”
Justin
Timberlake accepts the award for favorite male artist – pop/rock at the
American Music Awards …
Timberlake accepts the award for favorite male artist – pop/rock at the
American Music Awards …
And
Jennifer Lopez absolutely nailed the elaborate dance numbers during her tribute
to Salsa queen Celia Cruz, taking two dozen dancers through their paces while
wearing a shimmering silver dress.
Jennifer Lopez absolutely nailed the elaborate dance numbers during her tribute
to Salsa queen Celia Cruz, taking two dozen dancers through their paces while
wearing a shimmering silver dress.
She
winked at the crowd as she finished the number, the dancers sprawled around her
on the floor.
winked at the crowd as she finished the number, the dancers sprawled around her
on the floor.
Lady Gaga
and R. Kelly put on an elaborate production for their song “Do What U
Want,” staging a presidential affair. Kelly played the president and Gaga
a Marilyn Monroe-like mistress.
and R. Kelly put on an elaborate production for their song “Do What U
Want,” staging a presidential affair. Kelly played the president and Gaga
a Marilyn Monroe-like mistress.
Cyrus
wasn’t quite as over the top as her previous appearances this year but is
likely to be talked about just as much. The camera stayed on Cyrus and the
lip-syncing tabby that floated through space throughout, an odd duet that ended
when the cat winked and stuck out its tongue — Cyrus’ signature move.
wasn’t quite as over the top as her previous appearances this year but is
likely to be talked about just as much. The camera stayed on Cyrus and the
lip-syncing tabby that floated through space throughout, an odd duet that ended
when the cat winked and stuck out its tongue — Cyrus’ signature move.
