Taylor Swift swept the 2022 American Music Awards Sunday night, winning all six awards for which she was nominated including the top prize of artist of the year.
Three of her awards came for her work on her re-recorded Red (Taylor’s Version), including the 10-minute short film music video of “All Too Well,” starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien.
During her favorite pop album acceptance speech, Swift said she “never expected or assumed” her re-recorded albums would mean anything to fans, as she recalled and thanked those who helped her spend “hours and hours in the studio, meticulously re-creating” Red. She thanked the artists who joined her for the re-recorded version of her 2012 album, her “All Too Well” video stars and “I Bet You Think About Me” director Blake Lively and co-star Miles Teller.
Swift later returned to the stage to accept the award for best music video for “All Too Well,” thanking the fans for their support for the song, which Swift indicated was what allowed her to release the 10-minute version and make her short film starring Sink and O’Brien.
And for her final win, Swift spoke about how her support from her fans to release “more music” over the past few years than she did “in the entire decade preceding that,” kept her going and contributed to her happiness.
“You, the fans, made it clear that you wanted to hear lots of music that I would make. You encouraged me. So I found the more music I made and the more music I put out, the happier I was,” Swift said in part. “I have the fans to thank essentially for my happiness, and I love you more than I can say.”
Swift had already collected her six awards when the show devoted its last 30 minutes to an extended tribute to Lionel Richie, recipient of the 2022 Icon Award, given to an artist whose work has produced a global influence over the music industry. Smokey Robinson introduced Richie, noting that fans often get the two of them confused, with Robinson and Richie even signing autographs as each other for mistaken admirers, something Richie himself later confirmed.
After a video tribute, Richie took the stage and thanked his family, friends and manager and reflected on his 40-year history with the AMAs. Speaking to “the young superstars,” Richie told them, “God has given you a light. That light is only given to a few…If you get a chance to have that light on you, understand what God has in store … God is trying to tell you you are chosen to inspire. Take this opportunity. That light is on you, inspire.”
Stevie Wonder and Charlie Puth then took the stage for a jam session, in which they performed a number of Richie’s hits including “Easy,” “Say You, Say Me,” “Brick House,” and “We Are the World,” with the duo joined by Melissa Etheridge, Yola and other performers. Richie walked onstage and embraced Wonder and Robinson at the end of the performance.
The Wayne Brady-hosted show took place less than a day after Saturday night’s deadly shooting at a Colorado Springs, Colorado gay nightclub, where a 22-year-old man killed five people and left 25 injured before he was subdued by patrons and arrested. Brady, presenter Kim Petras and Dove Cameron, who won the first award of the night for best new artist, all spoke about the tragedy, expressing their support for the victims and the queer community at large.
“I want to remind everyone how important queer visibility is, and how important our community is,” Cameron said in part. “And I want to direct your attention to organizations like GLAAD and The Trevor Project for what you can do right now. I want to remind you that you are made absolutely right, and you are so loved and so held, and I want to thank you for supporting me. Thank you for holding the space — I’m holding it for you too.”
Brady addressed the shooting at the top of the second hour of the awards ceremony, saying that on behalf of the show, “our hearts go out to all of the victims’ families.” Speaking personally, he added, “I love you all, and my heart is with you, and God bless you.”
Referencing the recent death of Migos member Takeoff before transitioning to talking about the Colorado Springs shooting, Brady said, “We have to stop this senseless and terrible gun violence.”
In addition to Swift, top winners included Beyoncé, BTS, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen and Wizkid, who each won two awards.
Wallen’s wins are his first at the AMAs, as the chart-topping country artist returns to awards consideration after he was caught on camera in early 2021 using a racial slur.
Bad Bunny topped this year’s AMA nominations with eight nods, with Beyoncé, Swift and Drake each nominated for six awards. Adele, Styles and The Weeknd each scored five nominations.
Chris Brown won favorite male R&B artist, but he wasn’t present to accept the award, with presenter Kelly Rowland accepting on his behalf, telling the audience, who responded to the news of Brown’s win with some unclear shouts, “Excuse me, chill out.”
She continued, “But I want to tell Chris, thank you so much for making great music, and I want to tell him thank you for being an incredible performer. I’ll take this award and bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations and congratulations to all the nominees in this category.”
Brown remains a controversial figure after pleading guilty in 2009 to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna.
The show kicked off with Pink roller-skating onto the stage singing her new single, “Never Gonna Not Dance Again.”
An excited Brady then took the stage for his monologue, wearing a rainbow-colored suit and joking that “the bribes finally paid off,” as he was such a big music fan, much like those who vote for the winners, he screamed when he was offered the job of hosting Sunday night’s show. Brady highlighted 2022 Icon Award recipient Richie, saying that if he bumps into him as a fan and passes out, Richie should just sign his chest and walk away. Richie was seen laughing in the audience. Brady also joked about asking last year’s host, Cardi B, for help, before he launched into a musical performance of his own.
During his high-energy song, punctuated with a bleeped exclamation about the “AMAs,” Brady sang about “every nerdy kid listening to any kind of music,” growing up in Orlando and, in a callout to Will Smith’s Oscars altercation with Chris Rock, said “ain’t nobody getting slapped tonight.”
Bebe Rexha and Anitta delivered early performances, with the latter joined by Missy Elliott for a rendition of their collaboration “Lobby.” Carrie Underwood also performed in the show’s first hour, with Underwood’s tourmate Jimmie Allen introducing her with a brief tribute to the late Loretta Lynn.
Other performers included Imagine Dragons & JID, Cameron, Yola, Lil Baby and GloRilla and Cardi B. D-Nice served as the house DJ.
In addition to her main performance, Pink returned to the AMAs stage to pay tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John, singing “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
Presenters at the 2022 AMAs included Dan + Shay, Dustin Lynch, Ellie Goulding, Jessie James Decker, Karrueche Tran, Liza Koshy, Latto, Meghan Trainor, Niecy Nash-Betts, Roselyn Sanchez, Sabrina Carpenter and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
A number of awards were announced earlier Sunday during a Twitter and Discord audio live stream hosted by singer-songwriter Mark Tuan of GOT7, The Hollywood Reporter’s Tiffany Taylor and Billboard’s Tetris Kelly.
AMA winners are voted entirely by fans. Nominees are based on key fan interactions — as reflected on the Billboard charts — including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. Measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partner Luminate, in the eligibility period of Sept. 24, 2021, through Sept. 22, 2022.
The 2022 American Music Awards aired at 8 p.m. on ABC live from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater.
A list of this year’s winners follows.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Adele
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Drake
Harry Styles
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
The Weeknd
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dove Cameron (WINNER)
GAYLE
Latto
Måneskin
Steve Lacy
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
Elton John & Dua Lipa “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix” (WINNER)
Future ft. Drake & Tems “WAIT FOR U”
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow “INDUSTRY BABY”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
FAVORITE TOURING ARTIST
Bad Bunny
Coldplay (WINNER)
Ed Sheeran
Elton John
The Rolling Stones
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Adele “Easy On Me”
Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone “Me Porto Bonito”
Harry Styles “As It Was”
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow “INDUSTRY BABY”
Taylor Swift “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” (WINNER)
FAVORITE MALE POP ARTIST
Bad Bunny
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles (WINNER)
The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTIST
Adele
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Lizzo
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
FAVORITE POP DUO OR GROUP
BTS (WINNER)
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
Måneskin
OneRepublic
FAVORITE POP ALBUM
Adele 30
Bad Bunny Un Verano Sin Ti
Beyoncé Renaissance
Harry Styles Harry’s House
Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version) (WINNER)
The Weeknd Dawn FM
FAVORITE POP SONG
Adele “Easy On Me”
Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
Harry Styles “As It Was” (WINNER)
Lizzo “About Damn Time”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber “STAY”
FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Chris Stapleton
Cody Johnson
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen (WINNER)
Walker Hayes
FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Carrie Underwood
Lainey Wilson
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUP
Dan + Shay (WINNER)
Lady A
Old Dominion
Parmalee
Zac Brown Band
FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM
Carrie Underwood Denim & Rhinestones
Luke Combs Growin’ Up
Cody Johnson Human: The Double Album
Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version) (WINNER)
Walker Hayes Country Stuff: The Album
FAVORITE COUNTRY SONG
Chris Stapleton “You Should Probably Leave”
Cody Johnson “’Til You Can’t”
Dustin Lynch ft. MacKenzie Porter “Thinking ‘Bout You”
Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan “Buy Dirt”
Morgan Wallen “Wasted on You” (WINNER)
FAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
Lil Baby
Lil Durk
FAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Cardi B
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj (WINNER)
FAVORITE HIP-HOP ALBUM
Future I NEVER LIKED YOU
Gunna DS4EVER
Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (WINNER)
Lil Durk 7220
Polo G Hall of Fame 2.0
FAVORITE HIP-HOP SONG
Future ft. Drake & Tems “WAIT FOR U” (WINNER)
Jack Harlow “First Class”
Kodak Black “Super Gremlin”
Latto “Big Energy”
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow “INDUSTRY BABY”
FAVORITE MALE R&B ARTIST
Brent Faiyaz
Chris Brown (WINNER)
GIVĒON
Lucky Daye
The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST
Beyoncé (WINNER)
Doja Cat
Muni Long
Summer Walker
FAVORITE R&B ALBUM
Beyoncé Renaissance (WINNER)
Drake Honestly, Nevermind
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) An Evening with Silk Sonic
Summer Walker Still Over It
The Weeknd Dawn FM
FAVORITE R&B SONG
Beyoncé “BREAK MY SOUL”
Muni Long “Hrs And Hrs”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) “Smokin Out The Window”
SZA “I Hate U”
Wizkid ft. Tems “Essence” (WINNER)
FAVORITE MALE LATIN ARTIST
Bad Bunny (WINNER)
Farruko
J Balvin
Jhayco
Rauw Alejandro
FAVORITE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST
Anitta (WINNER)
Becky G
Kali Uchis
KAROL G
ROSALÍA
FAVORITE LATIN DUO OR GROUP
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
Grupo Firme
Yahritza Y Su Esencia (WINNER)
FAVORITE LATIN ALBUM
Bad Bunny Un Verano Sin Ti (WINNER)
Farruko La 167
J Balvin JOSE
Rauw Alejandro Vice Versa
ROSALÍA MOTOMAMI
FAVORITE LATIN SONG
Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone “Me Porto Bonito”
Becky G x KAROL G “MAMIII”
KAROL G “PROVENZA”
Rauw Alejandro “Todo de Ti”
Sebastián Yatra “Dos Oruguitas” (WINNER)
FAVORITE ROCK ARTIST
Imagine Dragons
Machine Gun Kelly (WINNER)
Måneskin
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Lumineers
FAVORITE ROCK SONG
Foo Fighters “Love Dies Young”
Imagine Dragons x JID “Enemy”
Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
Måneskin “Beggin’” (WINNER)
Red Hot Chili Peppers “Black Summer”
FAVORITE ROCK ALBUM
Coldplay Music of the Spheres
Ghost Impera (WINNER)
Imagine Dragons Mercury – Act 1
Machine Gun Kelly mainstream sellout
Red Hot Chili Peppers Unlimited Love
FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST
Anne Wilson
for KING & COUNTRY (WINNER)
Katy Nichole
Matthew West
Phil Wickham
FAVORITE GOSPEL ARTIST
CeCe Winans
DOE
E. Dewey Smith
Maverick City Music
Tamela Mann (WINNER)
FAVORITE DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST
Diplo
Marshmello (WINNER)
Swedish House Mafia
The Chainsmokers
Tiësto
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
Elvis (WINNER)
Encanto
Sing 2
Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4
Top Gun: Maverick
FAVORITE AFROBEATS ARTIST
Burna Boy
CKay
Fireboy DML
Tems
Wizkid (WINNER)
FAVORITE K-POP ARTIST
BLACKPINK
BTS (WINNER)
SEVENTEEN
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
TWICE
