Taylor Swift has extended her lead as the most awarded star in American Music Awards history, with three wins on a night that also rewarded Justin Bieber, the Weeknd, Doja Cat, BTS and more.
The pop music awards, now in their 48th year, gave Swift the top prize of artist of the year, following the release of acclaimed album Folklore in July. She also won favourite female artist, and favourite music video for Cardigan, bringing her overall tally to 32 wins.
In a video acceptance speech, she said: “The reason I’m not there tonight is I’m actually recording all of my old music in the studio where we originally recorded it. So it’s been amazing and I can’t wait for you to hear it.” Swift’s decision to rerecord her earlier albums was made amid a longrunning dispute with music manager Scooter Braun, who owns the master recordings and sold them to a private equity firm last week.
Favourite male artist was won by Justin Bieber, who also won collaboration of the year and favourite song (country) for 10,000 Hours, his song with country duo Dan + Shay, beating stiff competition from the likes of Megan Thee Stallion’s work with Cardi B and Beyoncé. The Weeknd also won three awards, dominating the soul/R&B categories.
Doja Cat won new artist of the year and favourite female artist (soul/R&B), while K-pop boyband BTS won favourite duo or group (pop/rock) and favourite social artist. UK successes came in the form of Harry Styles, winner of favourite album (pop/rock) for Fine Line, and Dua Lipa, winner of favourite song (pop/rock) for Don’t Start Now.
The awards took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and were hosted in front of a small audience by Taraji P Henson, with live performances from Bieber, BTS, Megan Thee Stallion and more.
American Music Awards 2020: the winners in full
Artist of the year: Taylor Swift
New artist of the year: Doja Cat
Collaboration of the year: Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber – 10,000 Hours
Favourite social artist: BTS
Favourite music video: Taylor Swift – Cardigan
Favourite male artist – pop/rock: Justin Bieber
Favourite female artist – pop/rock: Taylor Swift
Favourite duo/group – pop/rock: BTS
Favourite album – pop/rock: Harry Styles – Fine Line
Favourite song – pop/rock: Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
Favourite male artist – country: Kane Brown
Favourite female artist – country: Maren Morris
Favourite duo or group – country: Dan + Shay
Favourite album – country: Blake Shelton – Fully Loaded: God’s Country
Favourite song – country: Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber – 10,000 Hours
Favourite male artist – rap/hip-hop: Juice WRLD
Favourite female artist – rap/hip-hop: Nicki Minaj
Favourite album – rap/hip-hop: Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial
Favourite song – rap/hip-hop: Cardi B feat Megan Thee Stallion – WAP
Favourite male artist – soul/R&B: The Weeknd
Favourite female artist – soul/R&B: Doja Cat
Favourite album – soul/R&B: The Weeknd – After Hours
Favourite song – soul/R&B: The Weeknd – Heartless
Favourite male artist – Latin: Bad Bunny
Favourite female artist – Latin: Becky G
Favourite album – Latin: Bad Bunny – YHLQMDLG
Favourite song – Latin: Karol G & Nicki Minaj – Tusa
Favourite artist – alternative rock: Twenty One Pilots
Favourite artist – adult contemporary: Jonas Brothers
Favourite artist – contemporary inspirational: Lauren Daigle
Favourite artist – electronic dance music (EDM): Lady Gaga
Favourite soundtrack: Birds of Prey: The Album
