AMAs Feature Small Live Audience as The Weeknd, Taylor Swift Win 3 Awards Each

23 Nov 2020

Hollywood Reporter

AMAs Feature Small Live Audience as The Weeknd, Taylor Swift Win 3 Awards Each Hollywood ReporterTaylor Swift wins top prize, the Weeknd dominates at AMAs WDIV ClickOnDetroit2020 American Music Awards red carpet: PHOTOS of AMAs arriv

The fan-voted show, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, included memorable performances from Bell Biv DeVoe, Billie Eilish and Jennifer Lopez with Maluma.

The 2020 American Music Awards, like most things in 2020, was visibly affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Host Taraji P. Henson was joined at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theatre for the live ABC broadcast Sunday night by a limited audience of invited guests in small groups from the same families, she said, and she explained that they were socially distanced and tested for COVID-19. The small crowd, wearing masks in the balcony, was shown applauding and cheering throughout the show. The audience, while significantly smaller than ones for awards shows prior to the pandemic, was still somewhat of a rare sight in a year that's featured numerous audience-free and virtual events and comes as L.A. County has imposed new restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.

Earlier in the show, Henson referenced the months people have spent at home amid the pandemic, saying she was "happy to be off the couch and in some real fashion."

"It has been a long year and now that 2020 is coming to end, it’s time to remember that it’s one country," she said. "We need to heal and love on each other a little more. We’re gonna have some fun, embracing our neighbors and coming together with music."

At the end of the night, Henson reminded the audience that, despite the divisive election that recently took place, the U.S. is one country and urged people to "stay safe," a message also shared by two-time winner Doja Cat.

After accepting the award for favorite country song for their collaboration with Justin Bieber, "10,000 Hours," Dan + Shay's Dan Smyers addressed the rough 2020, calling it "the toughest year ever."

"We haven’t been able to be together in person," he added. "I just want to say that music has such an incredible power to unify us, music has power to change lives, to save the world. So to all of our fellow artists and nominees, everybody creating art at home, thank you for doing what you do."

Dan + Shay later won collaboration of the year for their work with Bieber, beating out high-profile nominees like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's hit single "WAP," Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's "Rain on Me" and Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé's “Savage Remix.”

And Henson introduced Lil Baby's performance of "Emotionally Scarred" by saying that it highlights the difficulty of the current year.

The winner of the night's top prize, artist of the year, Taylor Swift, wasn't in attendance, as she explained in a video acceptance speech that she was busy rerecording her earlier albums in the studio where she originally recorded them. Swift also won two more awards: favorite music video for her Folklore track "cardigan" and favorite female pop/rock artist.

Going into Sunday night's show, Roddy Ricch and The Weeknd had the most nominations for the fan-voted awards show, with eight nods each, including for the top prize of artist of the year.

The Weeknd, wearing bandages that covered his entire face apart from his mouth and nose, got off to a strong start, accepting the first award and dedicating it to Prince, noting he'd last accepted the award from the late musician. He returned just a few minutes later for a pyrotechnic heavy performance, accompanied by Kenny G on "In Your Eyes," followed by "Save Your Tears." He later won favorite soul/R&B song for "Heartless" and favorite male soul/R&B artist.

Megan Thee Stallion, who went into the night as the most nominated female artist this year with five nods, performed "Body," off of her recently released debut album Good News. Henson is one of a number of stars making cameos in the video for the song.

Megan's performance began with her delivering a body-positive message as close-up images of her flashed on a video screen. She soon took the stage wearing a sparkly black outfit and began her performance atop a staircase before descending it to join a group of dancers wearing similar black ensembles and sporting masks, for the rest of the song. At the end of the track, she ascended the staircase once again.

Stallion later participated in a comedy bit with Henson after accepting the award for favorite rap/hip-hop song for "WAP."

The show featured two throwback performances: Nelly, accompanied by Country Grammar guest Cedric the Entertainer, for a medley of the title track, "E.I." and "Ride Wit Me" and an energetic medley of "Do Me" and "Poison" from Bell Biv DeVoe.

Dancing and singing in front of a backdrop meant to look like a graffiti-covered outdoor basketball court, Bell Biv DeVoe performed both songs amid red and blue flashing lights. Henson was shown dancing amid cardboard cutouts of famous musicians in the audience during "Do Me" and the band was joined by two sweatshirt- and mask-clad dancers for "Poison."

Jennifer Lopez and Maluma took the stage for a choreography-heavy performance of "Pa' Ti" and "Lonely," the latter from her upcoming film Marry Me. The performance began with hands reaching out from behind prison bars as Lopez, sporting a sheer black ensemble and bathed in lights that looked like black-and-white bars, writhed around onstage as she sang before she was joined by Maluma. The two later sat opposite each other at a table before Lopez crawled over to him and he climbed on top of her. She then walked out from behind a set of bars and joined mask-wearing dancers for a chair-based dance routine before she and Maluma ended their performance seated back-to-back on chairs.

Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes kicked off the AMAs with a world premiere medley performance. Bieber began with "Lonely," singing to himself in front of a wall of mirrors, backed by just a piano. As he transitioned to "Holy," the set featured pink crosses that bathed him in rose-colored light and he was joined by dancers wearing masks. Mendes later appeared, sitting atop a platform and strumming a guitar as he sang "Monster." Bieber joined him and the two moved around each other onstage amid a strobe light.

Later in the show, Mendes delivered a second, solo performance of "Wonder" in a dimly lit living-room set. He later left the room to perform the rest of the song to strobe lighting.

Henson took the stage at the top of the show dancing to a medley of "Let's Go Crazy," "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "Savage," and "WAP," before stopping during the last song and admonishing the dancers who'd accompanied her so far: "Y'all about to make me lose my job. This is family TV."

Billie Eilish delivered a world-premiere performance of "Therefore I Am," bathed in red light as she moved around a backdrop of red hallways and small rooms.

Other performances included brightly-colored renditions of "Mood" by 24kGoldn with Iann Dior and "Baby, I'm Jealous," from Bebe Rexha featuring Doja Cat, in front of a backdrop meant to look like a rock formation; Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker rocking out while bathed in pink light; and stripped-down appearances by Dan + Shay, Lewis Capaldi ("Before You Go") and Katy Perry and Darius Rucker ("Only Love").

Not all of the performances originated from L.A.: Dua Lipa, who accepted an award earlier in the night, performed "Levitating" from London. Lipa wore a sparkly blue ensemble for the dance-filled performance and was joined by maskless dancers in blue leotards. After some light changes and special effects, Lipa indeed appeared to be levitating above the theater.

BTS performed, to close out the show, and accepted their award for favorite pop/rock duo or group from their native South Korea.

And Bad Bunny accepted his award and presented the first female Latin artist award to Becky G remotely.

In her acceptance speech, Becky G paid tribute to immigrants, telling a story about her grandfather.

"When I first got started at 14, I did a cover and I said, ‘It all started when my grandpa crossed over, now one day I'ma be a crossover.’ Today, I still carry that sentiment," she said. "I don't have to do the crossover because we are the crossover. When it comes to me and the decisions that I make in my career, I proudly wave both flags — Mexican and American. Like many, many children and grandchildren of immigrants, no matter where they’re from, we have learned from the ones before us what sacrifice and hard work looks like. I dedicate this award to all of our immigrant workers in this pandemic and the students and immigrant families. It’s because of my family that I stand here today."

Presenters included Anthony Anderson, Cara Delevingne, Christian Serratos, Ciara, David Dobrik, Derek Hough, G-Eazy, Kristin Cavallari, Laverne Cox, Megan Fox, Paris Hilton and new Bachelorette Tayshia Adams.

The American Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions, which shares a parent company with The Hollywood Reporter.

A complete list of the 2020 AMA nominees, updated as winners in each category are announced, follows.

ARTIST OF THE YEARTaylor Swift (WINNER)Justin BieberPost MaloneRoddy RicchThe Weeknd

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEARDoja Cat (WINNER)Lewis CapaldiDaBabyLil BabyRoddy RicchMegan Thee Stallion

COLLABORATION OF THE YEARDan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours” (WINNER)Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain On Me”Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé “Savage Remix”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTISTBTSBillie EilishEXOAriana GrandeNCT 127

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEOTaylor Swift “cardigan” (WINNER)Doja Cat “Say So”Future ft. Drake “Life Is Good”Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain On Me”The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST –POP/ROCKJustin BieberPost MaloneThe Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –POP/ROCKTaylor Swift (WINNER)Dua LipaLady Gaga

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP –POP/ROCKBTS (WINNER)Jonas BrothersMaroon 5

FAVORITE ALBUM –POP/ROCKHarry Styles “Fine Line”Taylor Swift “folklore”The Weeknd “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG –POP/ROCKDua Lipa “Don’t Start Now” (WINNER)Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved”Post Malone “Circles”Roddy Ricch “The Box”The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST –COUNTRYKane BrownLuke CombsMorgan Wallen

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –COUNTRYGabby BarrettMiranda LambertMaren Morris

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP –COUNTRYDan + ShayFlorida Georgia LineOld Dominion

FAVORITE ALBUM –COUNTRYLuke Combs “What You See Is What You Get”Blake Shelton “Fully Loaded: God’s Country”Morgan Wallen “If I Know Me”

FAVORITE SONG –COUNTRYDan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours” (WINNER)Maren Morris “The Bones”Blake Shelton (Duet with Gwen Stefani) “Nobody But You”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST –RAP/HIP-HOPDaBabyJuice WRLDRoddy Ricch

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –RAP/HIP-HOPCardi BNicki MinajMegan Thee Stallion

FAVORITE ALBUM –RAP/HIP-HOPLil Baby “My Turn”Lil Uzi Vert “Eternal Atake”Roddy Ricch “Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial”

FAVORITE SONG –RAP/HIP-HOPCardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP” (WINNER)DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”Roddy Ricch “The Box”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST –SOUL/R&BThe Weeknd (WINNER)Chris BrownJohn Legend

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –SOUL/R&BDoja Cat (WINNER)Jhene AikoSummer Walker

FAVORITE ALBUM –SOUL/R&BThe Weeknd “After Hours” (WINNER)Doja Cat “Hot Pink”Summer Walker “Over It”

FAVORITE SONG –SOUL/R&BThe Weeknd “Heartless” (WINNER)Chris Brown ft. Drake “No Guidance”Summer Walker “Playing Games”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST –LATINBad BunnyJ BalvinOzuna

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –LATINBecky G (WINNER)KAROL GRosalía

FAVORITE ALBUM –LATINBad Bunny “YHLQMDLG” (WINNER)Anuel AA ”Emmanuel”Bad Bunny “Las que no iban a salir”

FAVORITE SONG –LATINBad Bunny “Vete”Black Eyed Peas X J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”KAROL G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”