AMA winners include SZA, Gracie Abrams, Eminem and Billie Eilish
This year’s American Music Awards in Las Vegas celebrated both music legends and service members who were recognized on Memorial Day.
Las Vegas – From host and performer Jennifer Lopez to well-bred admiration for some of the most enduring artists in the music industry, this year’s American Music Awards offered a music buffet.
The two-hour show, first held at the intimate theatre in Fontaine Blaut, also lit up the spotlight on performers such as SZA, Gracie Abrams, Eminem and Artist of the Year.
Irish won in all of her seven nominated categories, with Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Post Malone also landing in the winner’s circle.
See the full list here.
The fan-voted event brought back newcomers, including Benson Boone and Alex Warren, to legendary Gloria Estefan, whose return of Amas 30 years later, and to Rod Stewart, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Here are some of the most memorable moments from the show’s 51st incarnation.
Jennifer Lopez’s intense opening performance
When Jennifer Lopez said a few days before Amas that her opening performance included dance, she may have never stretched it.
All this woman can do on stage at age 55 is to make her young companions stand in awe.
Leading in several poems from his 2012 Pitbull hit, “Dance Again,” Lopez stubbornly sang in the mirror hall before wearing a VR headset, sang on stage in a sparkly bodysuit, kickstarting the 23-song six-minute riot.
Frankly, she is surrounded by a dance team still voicing — Lopez falls backbend, spins with acrobatic bounty, and heads overhead by her dancers as a medley of last year’s hits (“Lucky, Baby!”, “Bird of Feathers”, “Tipsy”).
She probably raised some eyebrows in seductive movements during Benson Boone’s “beautiful,” and also built up some passionate kisses for male and female dancers, but that’s Vegas.
Lopez once again shows how horrible things are always praised, embracing her fly girl roots in intense hip-hop movements, wrapped in Kendrick Lamar’s “not what we are” by her.
Benson Boone turns over
Benson Boone continued to prove for herself the welcome of award show performers, as usual, because of the glare of Lazzle.
This time it came when the Nat singer, dressed in a purple spangle suit, did one of his patented twists in favor of Heidi Krum and Nikki Glazer, singing his new song, “Mystical Magical,” from the top of the stage to the floor.
Boune, backed by a small string section, smoothly rolled the songs from his upcoming album, “American Heart.” He is his “most complete work” with a purple carpet before the show.
Janet Jackson Icon Award: “I stand here for you and for God.”
Janet Jackson took to the stage for her first television performance in seven years, within 24 hours of performing at her new Las Vegas residency at Resorts World.
Jackson’s “The One Who Calls My Lover” and “For Everything” medley was a combination of sweetness and suspension. Few people could gaze deeper and communicate more attitudes like Jackson did. And she alternated between those tough looks and refreshing movements, as if she was hanging out with her shirtless dancers.
Shortly after her slinky performance, Jackson was awarded the Amas Icon Award. This is a worthy tribute considering the location of the show in Vegas, where Jackson began his career 52 years ago.
“I’m not rude to me, but I don’t consider myself an icon,” Jackson said in the trademark soft spokes. “My family, myself, our dreams never became famous. We always had a special love for music, dance, singing and fame.
As she holds the award, Jackson said she hopes others will be inspiration for “following their dreams and succeeding.”
“I am standing here thanks to you and God,” she said before closing her speech. “God should stay in every part of your life, because that’s where he wants to be.”
The military members were respected on Memorial Day.
Given that the AMA was held on the anniversary, it provided an ideal opportunity to declare gratitude to members of the US military.
Zach Brown stood next to a line of military members invited to the show, talking about the Easy Day Foundation, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit that helps veterans move from the military to civilian life.
Brown said, “There’s a lot to do whatever they’re asked so that we can be free in America, so we can do it.”
Other mentions resonated throughout the broadcast.
Ciara spotlighted some of the members of the military in the audience, but Dan + Shay paid tribute with his acceptance speech when he won a favorite country duo or group award. “Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we love,” Shay Mooney said.
Gloria Estefan also nodded to the troops at the opening of her lively medley.
“Scream to service members all over the world!” Estefan declared as she rolled over. “Rhythm is going to win you,” said the new song “Lavesina (Senna’)” and the 40-year-old hip shaker “Conga” where Lopez glows in the front row and dances alongside Estefan’s husband Emilio.
Rod Stewart was “overwhelmed” by his family.
It probably takes a lot of time to surprise Rod Stewart.
However, it was a desirable effect to see his family on stage and showcase the video retrospective of the enduring locker’s 60-year career.
“I was surprised. I didn’t know they were here,” he said. “I have eight (children). I didn’t have a TV.”
Stewart, who turned 80 in January, politely accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award in a speech pointing to the effects of Samcooke and muddy waters.
However, his family’s appearance still had an impact on him at the deepest depth as he dropped the F-bomb and expressed how “overwhelmed” he was.
“I’m not easy,” he munched before he raised the boundary to another part of the stage to run a swinging version of “Forever Young” (including bagpipes included) to close the show.
In his black striped pants, a ruffled shirt and a short white jacket, Stewart belted the inspirational national anthem, played air guitar, and was instantly in the spotlight as a female musician retreated from the spotlight to perform his fiddle and step dance, and was a gentleman who was a gentleman.
