AMAs 2021: BTS dominate star-studded awards ceremony hosted by Cardi B
Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny and Machine Gun Kelly also among the night’s winners
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Your support makes all the difference.The American Music Awards took place tonight (Sunday 21 November) at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
BTS dominated the night, picking up several awards and performing live. Host Cardi B also introduced performances from the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Italian rock band Maneskin, and Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak’s collaborative project, Silk Sonic.
Cardi herself took home the award for Favourite Hip-Hop Song, while Rodrigo received the Best New Artist Award.
BTS triumphed with two of the top prizes: Artist of the Year and Favourite Pop Song (”Butter”).
Contrary to other awards shows – in which a jury of industry figures decides winners – the honourees at the American Music Awards were chosen entirely based on votes by fans.
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Country star Mickey Guyton is “All American”
After Cardi B thanks country music star Mickey Guyton for buying her daughter “a star in the solar system, with papers and everything”, Guyton takes the stage for her AMAs debut, singing her recent patriotic single “All American”.
Megan Thee Stallion wins Favourite Trending Song
Stranger Things actor Madelyn Cline announces that the award for Favourite Trending Song goes to Megan Thee Stallion for “Body”. However, as Megan had to pull out of the AMAs, Cline says she’ll be “FedExing it to her personally”.
Maneskin fans complain after band perform ‘Beggin’ at AMAs instead of original song
Maneskin’s cover of “Beggin’” went down well with the audience - but some fans of the band aren’t happy. Here’s Roisin O'Connor with the full story:
Maneskin fans complain after band perform ‘Beggin’ at AMAs instead of original song
Fans accuse AMAs of ‘disrespect’ for apparently requesting the band perform their viral cover song
Giveon bares his soul
Giveon performs his recent single “Heartbreak Anniversary”, which more than lives up to Cardi B’s claim that the singer is “very soulful”.
Kane Brown beams in from Tennessee
Rising country star Kane Brown performs his raucous single “One Mississippi”, in a performance broadcast from his home state at Tennessee State University.
New Edition and New Kids on The Block face off in The Battle of Boston
Billed as ‘The Battle of Boston’, rival Massachusetts groups New Edition and New Kids on The Block go head-to-head onstage together for the first time. New Kids on The Block kick things off with “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” before R&B icons New Edition answer back with “Candy Girl”. Hits like “Step By Step” and “Mr Telephone Man” follow, as the camera cuts to J.B. Smoove and BTS dancing in the crowd.
BTS wins Artist of the Year
Actor Liza Koshy announces, to nobody’s surprise, that BTS are 2021’s Artist of the Year. The band thank their fans for the “long and amazing ride” from their first American performance to tonight’s dominant showing at the AMAs.
Becky G wins Favourite Female Latin Artist
Actor Anthony Ramos hands the award for Favourite Female Latin Artist to Becky G, who thanks “my team that’s been with since day one, and my family of course.” She dedicates the prize to “all of the Latinx community” and gets a huge roar from the local crowd when she adds: “I’m so proud to be from Inglewood.”
Walker Hayes is “Fancy Like"
Country singer Walker Hayes makes his AMAs debut with a performance of “Fancy Like,” which is nominated for Favorite Country Song, and still finds time to dance with his wife.
Olivia Rodrigo wins New Artist of the Year
Machine Gun Kelly returns to the stage to present the award for New Artist of the Year to Olivia Rodrigo. “Thank you so much to the AMAs and to the fans who voted for this award,” she announced. “Writing songs is my favourite thing in the world.”
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