2019’s American Music Awards
Image courtesy of VOX
By MADDIE CESARETTI ‘21
On November 24, 2019, the American Music Awards were presented for the 47th time, hosted this year by R&B singer Ciara. Every year. performers are nominated in over 25 categories, ranging in genre from pop/rock, soul/R&B, country, rap/hip hop, and more. Three artists are nominated for each category and, unlike in other prominent music award shows like the Grammy Awards or the Billboard Music Awards, the winners are chosen by popular vote. Some highlights include:
Going into the night, Post Malone had the most nominations (seven), and he left with a win for Favorite Album - Rap/Hip Hop for Hollywood’s Bleeding.
New Artist of the Year and Favorite Alternative Rock Artist went to Billie Eilish. These wins are Eilish’s first at the AMAs.
Dan + Shay won both Favorite Duo/Group - Country and Favorite Song - Country -- a big win after having lost both awards last year.
Carrie Underwood won in both her nominated categories of Favorite Female Artist - Country and Favorite Album - Country -- adding to her already impressive collection of AMA awards. She has remained undefeated as Favorite Female Artist - Country for the past five years now.
The popular Korean pop band BTS swept in all their nominated categories -- winning the awards for Tour of the Year, Favorite Social Artist, and Favorite Duo/Group - Pop/Rock. These wins only added to their win last year for Favorite Social Artist.
Khalid finished the night with impressive wins for Favorite Male Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Album - Soul/R&B for Free Spirit, and Favorite Song - Soul/R&B for “Talk.”
Performers included Jonas Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, and an opening act from Selena Gomez (her first television performance in two years).
As much as all the other stars shined, there is no doubt that Taylor Swift was the brightest star of the night. Swift’s first AMA was won all the back in 2007 for Favorite Female Artist - Country. We have watched as Swift evolved as an artist, from those country days to 1989 to Reputation, all the way to her most recent album, Lover. At the awards, she was honored with the landmark award of “Artist of the Decade.” She also entered the night with five AMA nominations -- Artist of the Year, Favorite Artist - Adult Contemporary, Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Album for Lover, and Favorite Music Video for “You Need to Calm Down,” -- and left with five AMA wins. Swift, who now has whooping 29 AMAs, is now the artist with the most AMA wins ever -- pushing her past Michael Jackson who has 26. As a tribute to her own past music, Swift performed a show-stopping medley of her hits this past decade and truly proved her worthy of the lofty title, “Artist of the Decade.”