The 2016 American Music Awards was a bust in terms of award shows, full of lackluster performances and awkward jokes from hosts Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah.
The hosting pair seemed an odd choice for the awards show and their performance offered no explanation for the choice. Pharoah’s well-known Jay Z and Kanye West impressions were left as afterthoughts, and Hadid’s Melania Trump impression was out of place, though better than some gave her credit for.
Bruno Mars and The Chainsmokers gave unmemorable performances, though Lady Gaga impressed with her vocal and guitar talents during the show’s only country act. Gaga, with her new country persona, performed her hit “Million Reasons.”
Selena Gomez gave an emotional and raw acceptance speech for her Favorite Female Artist (Pop/Rock) award, and was one of the most memorable moments of the night. “I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside. And I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down,” she told her fans after her stints with rehab. “I’m not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore. All I can say from the bottom of my heart is I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be able to share what I love every single day with people that I love. And I have to say thank you so much to my fans, because you guys are so damn loyal, and I don’t know what I did to deserve you. But if you are broken, you do not have to stay broken. And if that’s anything, whether you respect me or not, that’s one thing you should know about me, I care about people. And this is for you, thank you.”
Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson also gave an emotional speech thanking her brother for all the inspiring work he’d done in his lifetime. “We’ll keep this for you at Paisley Park until we see you again,” she said through tears after accepting the award for the Purple Rain soundtrack. “This is for you.”
See the full list of winners below.
Artist of the Year
Adele
Beyoncé
Justin Bieber
Drake
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Twenty One Pilots
Carrie Underwood
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Artist — Pop/Rock
Adele
Selena Gomez
Rihanna
Favorite Artist — Alternative Rock
Coldplay
Twenty One Pilots
X Ambassadors
Favorite Duo or Group — Country
Zac Brown Band
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Top Soundtrack
Purple Rain
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Suicide Squad: The Album
Favorite Artist — Rap/Hip-Hop
Drake
Fetty Wap
Future
New Artist of the Year Un-Leashed By T-Mobile
Alessia Cara
The Chainsmokers
DNCE
Shawn Mendes
Zayn
Favorite Song — Country
Florida Georgia Line, “H.O.L.Y”
Tim McGraw, “Humble And Kind”
Thomas Rhett, “Die A Happy Man”
Collaboration of the Year
The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, “Don’t Let Me Down”
Drake Featuring Wizkid & Kyla, “One Dance”
Fifth Harmony Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, “Work From Home”
Rihanna Featuring Drake, “Work”
Meghan Trainor Featuring John Legend, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You
Favorite Artist — Electronic Dance Music
The Chainsmokers
Calvin Harris
Major Lazer
Favorite Album — Rap/Hip-Hop
Drake, Views
Drake & Future, What A Time To Be Alive
Fetty Wap, Fetty Wap
Favorite Duo or Group — Pop/Rock
The Chainsmokers
DNCE
Twenty One Pilots
Tour of the Year
Beyoncé
Madonna
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Video of the Year
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Desiigner, “Panda”
Rihanna Featuring Drake, “Work”
Favorite Male Artist — Pop/Rock
Justin Bieber
Drake
The Weeknd
Favorite Album — Pop/Rock
Adele, 25
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Drake, Views
Favorite Song — Pop/Rock
Adele, “Hello”
Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”
Drake Featuring Wizkid & Kyla, “One Dance”
Favorite Male Artist — Country
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett
Blake Shelton
Favorite Female Artist — Country
Kelsea Ballerini
Cam
Carrie Underwood
Favorite Album — Country
Luke Bryan, Kill The Lights
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller
Favorite Song — Rap/Hip-Hop
Desiigner, “Panda”
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Fetty Wap, “679”
Favorite Male Artist — Soul/R&B
Chris Brown
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Artist — Soul/R&B
Beyoncé
Janet Jackson
Rihanna
Favorite Album — Soul/R&B
Beyoncé, Lemonade
Rihanna, Anti
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
Favorite Song — Soul/R&B
Drake Featuring Wizkid & Kyla, “One Dance”
Rihanna Featuring Drake, “Work”
Bryson Tiller, “Don’t”
Favorite Artist — Adult Contemporary
Adele
Rachel Platten
Meghan Trainor
Favorite Artist — Latin
J Balvin
Enrique Iglesias
Nicky Jam
Favorite Artist — Contemporary Inspirational
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong United
Chris Tomlin
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