“Four years ago, we gave this first-time ever TV live performance at this stage, AMAs, it was ‘DNA.’ We were too excited and nervous at time, and it’s been a long and amazing ride since then,” said the boy group’s leader RM. “We’ll never take it for granted.”
BTS took home two more big awards — favorite pop duo or group and favorite pop song for “Butter” — and performed with Coldplay on a raucous “My Universe.” An earlier scheduled performance of “Butter” by BTS and Megan Thee Stallion was scrapped after the rapper cited personal reasons for dropping out, so the group performed the hit single on their own.
Rap superstar and 2021 AMA winner Cardi B made her hosting debut at the show, live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion were the top winning female artists at this year’s AMAs, also with three awards. The “WAP” rapper was named favorite female hip-hop artist, her “Good News” winning for favorite hip-hop album and her “Body” was crowned favorite trending song, a new award this year. Doja Cat won collaboration of the year for “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA, favorite female R&B artist and favorite R&B album for “Planet Her.”
Newcomer Olivia Rodrigo had the most nominations of the night, with seven, while The Weeknd has six. The “drivers license” singer won new artist of the year.
Taylor Swift, the most decorated artist in AMA history, won favorite female pop artist and favorite pop album for “evermore.”
Other winners include Machine Gun Kelly for favorite rock artist award, Ed Sheeran for favorite male pop artist, Becky G for favorite female Latin artist and Kanye West for favorite gospel artist.
Stream the 2021 American Music Awards the next day on Hulu.
PHOTOS: 2021 AMA red carpet fashion
Full list of winners, nominees
Artist of The Year
WINNER: BTS
Ariana Grande
BTS
Drake
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
New Artist of The Year
WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo
24kGoldn
Givēon
Masked Wolf
Olivia Rodrigo
The Kid LAROI
Collaboration of The Year
WINNER: Doja Cat ft. SZA: “Kiss Me More”
24kGoldn ft. iann dior: “Mood”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez: “DÁKITI”
Chris Brown & Young Thug: “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat ft. SZA: “Kiss Me More”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Givēon: “Peaches”
Favorite Trending Song
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion: “Body”
Erica Banks: “Buss It”
Måneskin: “Beggin'”
Megan Thee Stallion: “Body”
Olivia Rodrigo: “drivers license”
Popp Hunna: “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)”
Favorite Music Video
WINNER: Lil Nas X: “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak): “Leave The Door Open”
Cardi B: “Up”
Lil Nas X: “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Olivia Rodrigo: “drivers license”
The Weeknd: “Save Your Tears”
Favorite Male Pop Artist
WINNER: Ed Sheeran
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Pop Artist
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Ariana Grande
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
Favorite Pop Duo or Group
WINNER: BTS
AJR
BTS
Glass Animals
Maroon 5
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Favorite Pop Album
WINNER: Taylor Swift: “evermore”
Ariana Grande: “Positions”
Dua Lipa: “Future Nostalgia”
Olivia Rodrigo: “SOUR”
Taylor Swift: “evermore”
The Kid LAROI: “F*** LOVE”
Favorite Pop Song
WINNER: BTS: “Butter”
BTS: “Butter”
Doja Cat ft. SZA: “Kiss Me More”
Dua Lipa: “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo: “drivers license”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears (Remix)”
Favorite Male Country Artist
WINNER: Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
*Morgan Wallen
Favorite Female Country Artist
WINNER: Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kacey Musgraves
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Favorite Country Duo or Group
WINNER: Dan + Shay
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Lady A
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Favorite Country Album
WINNER: Gabby Barrett: “Goldmine”
Chris Stapleton: “Starting Over”
Gabby Barrett: “Goldmine”
Lee Brice: “Hey World”
Luke Bryan: “Born Here Live Here Die Here”
*Morgan Wallen “Dangerous: The Double Album”
Favorite Country Song
WINNER: Gabby Barrett: “The Good Ones”
Chris Stapleton: “Starting Over”
Chris Young & Kane Brown: “Famous Friends”
Gabby Barrett: “The Good Ones”
Luke Combs: “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes: “Fancy Like”
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist
WINNER: Drake
Drake
Lil Baby
Moneybagg Yo
Polo G
Pop Smoke
Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Erica Banks
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie
Favorite Hip-Hop Album
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion: “Good News”
Drake:”Certified Lover Boy”
Juice WRLD: “Legends Never Die”
Megan Thee Stallion: “Good News”
Pop Smoke: “Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon”
Rod Wave: “SoulFly”
Favorite Hip-Hop Song
WINNER: Cardi B: “Up”
Cardi B: “Up”
Internet Money ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV: “Lemonade”
Lil Tjay ft 6LACK: “Calling My Phone”
Polo G: “RAPSTAR”
Pop Smoke: “What You Know Bout Love”
Favorite Male R&B Artist
WINNER: The Weeknd
Chris Brown
Givēon
Tank
The Weeknd
Usher
Favorite Female R&B Artist
WINNER: Doja Cat
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA
Favorite R&B Album
WINNER: Doja Cat: “Planet Her”
Doja Cat: “Planet Her”
Givēon: “When It’s All Said And Done … Take Time”
H.E.R.: “Back of My Mind”
Jazmine Sullivan: “Heaux Tales”
Queen Naija: “misunderstood”
Favorite R&B Song
WINNER: Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak): “Leave The Door Open”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak): “Leave The Door Open”
Chris Brown & Young Thug: “Go Crazy”
Givēon: “Heartbreak Anniversary”
H.E.R.: “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan: “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Favorite Male Latin Artist
WINNER: Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Rauw Alejandro
Favorite Female Latin Artist
WINNER: Becky G
Becky G
Kali Uchis
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA
Favorite Latin Duo or Group
WINNER: Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
La Arrollladora Banda El Limón De René Camacho
Los Dos Carnales
Favorite Latin Album
WINNER: Bad Bunny: “EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO”
Bad Bunny: “EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO”
Kali Uchis: “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)”
KAROL G: “KG0516”
Maluma: “PAPI JUANCHO”
Rauw Alejandro: “Afrodisíaco”
Favorite Latin Song
WINNER: Kali Uchis: “telepatía”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez: “DÁKITI”
Bad Bunny & ROSALÍA: “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE”
Farruko: “Pepas”
Kali Uchis: “telepatía”
Maluma & The Weeknd: “Hawái (Remix)”
Favorite Rock Artist
WINNER: Machine Gun Kelly
AJR
All Time Low
Foo Fighters
Glass Animals
Machine Gun Kelly
Favorite Inspirational Artist
WINNER: Carrie Underwood
CAIN
Carrie Underwood
Elevation Worship
Lauren Daigle
Zach Williams
Favorite Gospel Artist
WINNER: Kanye West
Kanye West
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Maverick City Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist
WINNER: Marshmello
David Guetta
ILLENIUM
Marshmello
Regard
Tiësto
How to watch
The show aired live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT | 7 p.m. CT and will stream the following day on Hulu.
Performers
Along with the “My Universe” and “Butter” performances, AMA highlights include Jennifer Lopez’s pre-taped “On My Way” from her upcoming romantic comedy “Marry Me.”
Silk Sonic’s Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak kicked off the awards on a funky, R&B and pre-taped note with their “Smokin Out the Window.”
Olivia Rodrigo performed her hit “traitor” live on a stage covered with flowers and Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean brought a little country to the stage when they sang their pre-taped duet “If I Didn’t Love You.” With a little help from Julieta Venegas and Tainy, Bad Bunny performed their hit “Lo Siento BB :/.”
Among live performances, Italian band Måneskin made their U.S. awards show debut with their viral hit “Beggin.'” Chlöe of Chloe x Halle floated down onto the stage to perform her hit debut single as a soloist “Have Mercy,” swinging her hair and twerking. Mickey Guyton got loud cheers while singing her patriotic song “All American” in a silvery dress, periodically screaming out “How y’all doing?”
For the older viewers, New Edition and New Kids on the Block performed together. The Boston-based groups took turns with the hits, trading hits: “You Got It (The Right Stuff”), “Candy Girl,” “Step By Step,” “Mr. Telephone Man” and uniting for “Can You Stand the Rain,” “Is This the End,” “Hangin’ Tough” and “If It Isn’t Love.”
Kane Brown performed “One Mississippi” from Tennessee State University. Soulful new artist of the year nominee Giveon and relentlessly experimental rapper Tyler, the Creator also performed.
MORE: What to know about 2021 AMA performances
Host Cardi B in a fur headdress revved up the crowd, admitting she was sweating.
“I’m a little nervous,” said the host after listing all the performances planned. “We’re going to celebrate everybody.”
Later her song “Up” was named favorite hip-hop song.
She said she planned to be herself when she takes the stage.
“Oh the pressure on me! They got a lot of pressure,” the rap superstar told “Good Morning America” Friday. “I mean, how can I excite the audience? Should I show my child? No, no, no, I’m now not gonna do that. I don’t know, I’m just gonna be myself.”
The “I Like It” and “Bodak Yellow” rapper admitted that she’s feeling nervous for the big night but said she loves the opportunity to host.
“Some just awakes in me [when I perform]. But when I’m on TV shows, for some reason I just get so nervous. Like, oh my goodness,” she said.
Machine Gun Kelly, JoJo Siwa and Brandy were among the Hollywood stars who revealed the 2021 AMA winners.
They were joined by Ansel Elgort & Rachel Zegler, Anthony Ramos, Billy Porter, JB Smoove, Liza Koshy, Marsai Martin, Madelyn Cline and Winnie Harlow, producers announced Friday.
*Country artist Morgan Wallen, who was condemned by the music industry for using a racial slur in a video that was leaked in February, was included in this year’s ceremony, showrunners said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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