2018 American Music Awards Complete Winners List

Hosted by Blackish star Tracee Ellis Ross, the 2018 American Music Awards will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 9 at 8:00pm ET on ABC.

Performers include Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Camila Cabello, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and more. Also there will be a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin. And Panic at the Disco will perform a tribute to Queen.

We’ll be tracking the winners and performances here.

Taylor Swift kicks off the show. She’s been in the news lately–finally showing her political hand, supporting the democratic nominees in Tennessee. The internets lost it. She opens the show with ‘I Did Something Bad.” Fitting. “They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one…lock me up.”  She still can’t sing live, though. But there’s a Cobra!

Tracee Ellis Ross kicks off the show with a bit, performing her way through a bunch of popular songs. She dances. Nope. Not a singer like mama.  This is kind of pointless.

Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha present Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist to Cardi B. She was just arrested, for something. Oh. A strip club fight! Her outfit is very…colorful.

Gosh. Tracee. These “mom” jokes you’re telling. The kids are impressed, I’m sure.

Amber Heard it next to introduce Twenty-One Pilots “exactly how many TV shows I’ve been on that weren’t picked up.” The band is here to perform “Jumpsuit” in a cloud of smoke and yellow lights.  OHH FLAMING CAR. And confetti. Fin.

MaCaulay Culkin BLAST FROM THE PAST is here to present Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist to Post Malone. Ew. His facial tattoos. NO.

Heidi Klum is next. She presents Tour of the Year to….you guessed it…Taylor Swift. She’s sitting right next to Camila Cabello! YAY. She thanks her tourmates Charli XcX and Camila.

Chloe and Halle are next. What’s up with the caftans? They are here to introduce the LEGENDARY Mariah Carey. She’s singing her new single “With You.” This song does not require range or vocal gymnastics, which is a very good thing. Pretty boring song, though.

Shawn Mendes and Zedd are next to perform “Lost in Japan.”  Kinda like this song. Very dreamy.

Next Ella Mai performs her song “Boo’d Up.” She’s singing just under pitch, at first.

Busy Phillips and John Stamos are on stage. Busy confesses that she had a big crush on John when she was a kid. They present Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist to Khalid.

Now, Tracee is onstage wearing a “I’m a Voter” T shirt. She introduces Cardi B who became the first female rapper with 3 Hot 100 No 1s. She is joined by J Balvin and Bad Bunny to perform the Latin flavored “I Like It.”  Oh that big colorful dress had a point. This performance is a total party.

Next, it’s Ashley and Evan. Evan is Tracee’s brother. Favorite Pop/Rock Song is presented to Camila Cabello and Young Thug for “Havana.” It’s her first AMA as a solo artist.

Sara Gilbert and Thomas Rhett present Favorite Female Artist/Country to….Carrie Underwood! YAY.  She’s SUPER pregnant, and needs some help up the stairs to the stage.

Normani and some Youtube person introduce Vinnie Blanca, Halsey and Khalid, who perform their hit “Eastside.” They perform on a set dressed up like a funky apartment. The walls come up and the stage opens up. That was kind of cool.

Kathryn Hahn and Billy Eichner (celebrating his 40th birthday) present Adult Contemporary Artist to Shawn Mendes. But first, Billy URGES people to VOTE VOTE VOTE. He gets real political here.

Constance Wu and Rita Ora take the stage to present Favorite Pop/Rock Group or Duo to Migos.

The Chainsmokers and Kelsea Ballerini introduce Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign perform a medley of “Psycho” and “Better Now”

An ad for the new Youtube app bleeds into Dua Lipa’s AMAs performance.  I almost blasted right past that! She’s performing “One Kiss,” a song she recorded with Calvin Harris. OHHH. BLACK LIGHTS. Freaky.  But I like this a lot.  Very upbeat and catchy.

Tracee is now dressed in leopard print from head to toe. OK then.

Vanessa Hudgens is on stage to introduce Jennifer Lopez to perform the Second Act anthem “Limitless.” Fun fact. Besides starring in the movie Second Act together, they both judged summer dance shows, SYTYCD and World of Dance respectively! The wind machine is getting a workout in this number.

Tracee is out in the audience chatting with Jennifer’s boyfriend Alex Rodriguez. Tracee wants to know his secrets to beautiful skin.

Lauren Daigle and Kane Brown present Favorite Soul/R&B album to the late XXXTentacion. His mother accepts the award on his behalf. Sad. He was murdered in the streets. A very violent way to go.

Camila Cabello ALSO part of a Youtube App ad that bleeds into a performance. She performs an pretty performance of  “Consequences.” She’s backed by a string orchestra. Her dress is beautiful–pink and black satin and tulle.  Taylor is looking on, proud.

Amandla Stenberg star of The Hate U Give movie presents Favorite Pop/Rock Album to Taylor Swift for Reputation. Taran Killam and Leighton Meester present Favorite Male Artist/Country to Kane Brown. It’s his first AMA.

Ciara and Missy Elliott are next, performing the viral hit “Level Up.”  The exercise tune of the year. Not an accident, I’m sure.

Tyra Banks is next to present New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Saver Card!!!! And the award goes to Camila Cabello!  She didn’t thank Simon Cowell.

Next, it’s Carrie Underwood performing the poignant “Spinning Bottles” from her new album Cry Pretty. This is so emotional.  Wow. One of the best performances of the night. Blame the hormones.

Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello and Gwilym Lee, the stars of the new Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, introduce Panic at the Disco performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” from a stage in Australia. Guess they are on tour. This is a notoriously hard song to sing. Brendon Urie has the showman ship, if not the vocal chops.  Pretty entertaining, though.

Lenny Kravitz is next and presents Artist of the Year to….Tay Tay of course! Taylor Swift.

And the night ends with a tribute to the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin featuring Gladys Knight and a slew of gospel stars, including, Cee Cee Winans, Mary Mary, Ledisi, and Donnie MccLurkin. It starts off with Gladys singing “Amazing Grace,” one of Aretha’s signature gospel tunes, followed by more gospel greats.  It’s a rollicking and joyful way to end the show.

“2018 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS” NOMINEES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Drake
Imagine Dragons
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift – WINNER

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE SAVOR CARD
Camila Cabello – WINNER
Cardi B
Khalid
Dua Lipa
XXXTENTACION

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana” – WINNER
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Bruno Mars & Cardi B “Finesse”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant To Be”
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey “The Middle”

TOUR OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé & JAY-Z
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift – WINNER
U2

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana” – WINNER
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
Drake “God’s Plan”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS – WINNER
Cardi B
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Drake
Post Malone – WINNER
Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Taylor Swift – WINNER

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5
Migos – WINNER

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Drake “Scorpion”
Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
Taylor Swift “reputation” – WINNER

FAVORITE SONG- POP/ROCK
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana” – WINNER
Drake “God’s Plan”
Ed Sheeran “Perfect”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kane Brown – WINNER
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kelsea Ballerini
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood – WINNER

FAVORITE DUO or GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line – WINNER
LANCO

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Kane Brown “Kane Brown” – WINNER
Luke Combs “This One’s For You”
Thomas Rhett “Life Changes”

FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Kane Brown “Heaven” – WINNER
Dan + Shay “Tequila”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant To Be”

FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B – WINNER
Drake
Post Malone

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Drake “Scorpion”
Lil Uzi Vert “Luv Is Rage 2”
Post Malone “beerbongs & bentleys” – WINNER

FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” – WINNER
Drake “God’s Plan”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Khalid – WINNER
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Ella Mai
Rihanna – WINNER
SZA

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Khalid “American Teen”
SZA “CTRL”
XXXTENTACION “17” – WINNER

FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Khalid “Young Dumb & Broke”
Ella Mai “Boo’d Up”
Bruno Mars & Cardi B “Finesse” – WINNER

FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Imagine Dragons
Panic! At The Disco – WINNER
Portugal. The Man

FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Shawn Mendes – WINNER
P!NK
Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE ARTIST – LATIN
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee – WINNER
Ozuna

FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle – WINNER
MercyMe
Zach Williams

FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
The Chainsmokers
Marshmello – WINNER
Zedd

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
“Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By” – WINNER
“The Greatest Showman”
“The Fate of the Furious: The Album”

PHOTOS

Carrie Underwood

Camila Cabello

About mj santilli 34843 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!