36th Annual American Music Awards (2008)

Welcome to Digital Hit Entertainment's coverage of the 2008 American Music Awards. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the ceremony took place on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008.

8:00 PM ET

The show starts off with a medley performance by Christina Aguilera, which included "Beautiful" and "Genie in a Bottle".

8:07 PM ET

Host Jimmy Kimmel takes to the stage. "2008 was a big year. Jay Z and Beyonce Z got married...Katy Perry kissed a girl and liked it...Clay Aiken didn't."

"For a bunch of virgins, the Jonas Brothers are mowing through women like Madonna goes through the starting line-up of the New York Yankees."

"Speaking of God, Kanye West is with us tonight."

"Miley Cyrus is sixteen tonight...I was talking to Billy Ray Cyrus before the show and he said they grow up so fast. One day you're changing their diapers, next thing you know, you're moving out of their house."

"There's a lot of teenagers performing tonight...ironically the only old people here are New Kids on the Block."

8:10 PM ET

Our night's first presenter is Jamie Foxx and he's presenting Favorite Female R&B Artist. And the AMA goes to Rihanna. She gives the obligatory shout out to the fans.

8:14 PM ET

Jimmy introduces a performance by New Kids on the Block. Man, it's like a bad theme park performance. Still, if someone offered you tens of millions to reunite for an album and a tour, wouldn't you make a fool of yourself?

8:23 PM ET

Paris Hilton and T. Pain are the next presenters. They're presenting Pop/Rock Favorite Male Artist. And the AMA goes to Chris Brown. Chris is the first person to thank God, who apparently mixed his album.

8:25 PM ET

Rehab expert Scott Weiland introduces a performance by Pink. Either he has a problem reading the teleprompter or his chemicals are just kicking in. Great performance.

8:34 PM ET

Idol winner David Cook introduces a performance by country singer Taylor Swift. Is this her "dissing the Jonas brother" song?

8:38 PM ET

Dancing with the Stars finalist Lance Bass introduces the nominees for Favorite Country Band. And the AMA goes to Rascal Flatts, their fourth career AMA win. They thank God and radio.

8:40 PM ET

Ne-Yo performs next. He sounds like 80% of the other R&B singers out there. Isn't anyone distinct these days?

8:47 PM ET

Nickelback is presenting the Rap/Hip-Hop Album award. And the AMA goes to Kayne West for Graduation. It's his first AMA win. He says he wants to be Elvis.

8:50 PM ET

Jesse McCartney, who co-wrote "Bleeding Love" introduces Leona Lewis. I've already forgotten the song she was singing...and she's still performing. Yawn.

8:59 PM ET

Kimmel tells Kanye that Elvis died on the toilet, so "You might want to rethink that one." He then introduces Billy Ray Cyrus who introduces a performance by Miley Cyrus. It's her sixteenth birthday, which means she's still not legal for her boyfriend. And her performance is truly awful. Are tweens deaf?

9:05 PM ET

David Archuleta and The Secret Life of the American Teenager's Shailene Woodley present the Country Favorite Male Artist to Brad Paisley. He looks at the award..."Made in China?"

9:11 PM ET

Coldplay performs. Finally we can wash the Miley Cyrus dreck out of our ears. Apparently they got a discount on confetti.

9:14 PM ET

Richie Sambora and Colbie Caillat are handing out the hardware for Favorite Pop/Rock Album. And the AMA goes to Alicia Keys for As I Am.

9:22 PM ET

Jimmy Kimmel asks the Wu-Tang Clan if they can name any of the Jonas Brothers. Terrence Howard then intros Mariah Carey. He mentions she's received a special AMA and then she performs.

9:27 PM ET

Nick Lachey and Sarah Chalke introduce the chartered accountants from Ernst & Young. Woo Hoo!

Nick and Sarah now present Favorite Female Country Artist. And the AMA goes to Taylor Swift. "This is the first AMA I've ever won!" She also appreciate how shiny the award is.

9:30 PM ET

Daughtry is now here to present Pop/Rock Favorite Female Artist. And the AMA goes to Rihanna, her second win tonight. Whoops...almost got an upskirt shot from her as she climbed the stairs.

9:37 PM ET

Kate Walsh introduces The Fray. Thought that was something that happened to old fabric.

9:41 PM ET

Jordin Sparks and Enrique Iglesias. The teleprompter reading twosome are presenting Favorite Male Rap/Hip-Hop Artist. And the AMA goes to Kanye West. He says he wants the award to go to Lil Wayne.

9:43 PM ET

Ashley Tisdale is presenting the T-Mobile Breakthrough Award. And the AMA goes to the Jonas Brothers. The charts truly do suck these days.

9:46 PM ET

The Dream is here to introduce a performance by Beyoncé. If you're gonna lip synch with a mic, maybe you should hold it near your mouth when we hear your voice.

9:56 PM ET

Akon and Julianne Hough are presenting Favorite Soul/R&B Album. And the AMA goes to Alicia Keys for As I Am, her second AMA of the night.

9:58 PM ET

Gee, can't they find anybody to present who doesn't work for ABC? It's Camp Rock's Demi Lovato to introduce a performance by the Jonas Brothers. Of course, we're using the word "performance" for lack of a better noun.

The Jonas Brothers try to get the audience to clap along. Maybe 5% of the industry audience actually do and even then they're probably doing it to be ironic.

10:02 PM ET

From bad to worse. The Pussycat Dolls perform. Of course they have to perform with poles. Wait a few minutes. Their used pleather will now be sold on Ebay.

10:07 PM ET

Ali Landry gives us an Old Navy fashion report. So awful...

10:12 PM ET

Kimmel introduces Justin Timberlake who is here to present the Award of Merit to Annie Lennox. Annie Lennox then performs. Man, most of the other performers on this show should take lessons from her.

After JT presents the award to her, she pays tribute to Dave Stewart by saying half of the award belongs to him.

10:28 PM ET

Natasha Bedingfield performs now. We just have to make it through half an hour and the pain ends. Isn't this song used for a moisturizer?

10:32 PM ET

We move straight into a performance by Rihanna. She has an eyepatch...looks like a rhinestone pirate.

10:35 PM ET

The camera pans over the audience. Some woman in glasses looks seriously ticked at her date.

10:40 PM ET

Mötley Crüe lurch out to present Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group. And the AMA goes to Daughtry. Really? No, I mean...really?

10:42 PM ET

Kanye West performs now. He always makes it look like he's going through such turmoil when the music just doesn't back it up.

10:46 PM ET

Sarah McLachlan is now performing. She duets with Pink on "Arms of an Angel."

10:53 PM ET

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are here to present Artist of the Year. And the AMA goes to Chris Brown. Okay, so this really is a fan-voted show. Chris says he would've given it to Coldplay.

10:56 PM ET

Alicia Keys performs with Queen Latifah, who raps about Obama. They're then joined by opera singer Kathleen Battle.

11:00 PM ET

Jimmy Kimmel says goodnight and we're outta here.

Here are the nominees:

POP/ROCK MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

  • Chris Brown
  • Kid Rock
  • Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

  • Mariah Carey
  • Alicia Keys
  • Rihanna

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP

  • Coldplay
  • Eagles
  • Daughtry

FAVORITE ALBUM

  • Coldplay — Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
  • Eagles — Long Road Out of Eden
  • Alicia Keys — As I Am

COUNTRY MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

  • Garth Brooks
  • Kenny Chesney
  • Brad Paisley

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

  • Reba McEntire
  • Taylor Swift
  • Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP

  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Rascal Flatts
  • Sugarland

FAVORITE ALBUM

  • Garth Brooks — The Ultimate Hits
  • Rascal Flatts — Still Feels Good
  • Carrie Underwood — Carnival Ride

RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

  • Flo Rida
  • Lil Wayne
  • Kanye West

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP

  • G Unit
  • Three 6 Mafia
  • Wu-Tang Clan

FAVORITE ALBUM

  • Jay-Z — American Gangster
  • Lil Wayne — Tha Carter III
  • Kayne West — Graduation

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

  • Chris Brown
  • J. Holiday
  • Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

  • Mary J. Blige
  • Alicia Keys
  • Rihanna

FAVORITE ALBUM

  • Mary J. Blige — Growing Pains
  • Mariah Carey — E=MC2
  • Alicia Keys — As I Am

SOUNDTRACKS

FAVORITE ALBUM

  • Alvin And The Chipmunks
  • Juno
  • Mamma Mia!

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST

  • Coldplay
  • Foo Fighters
  • Linkin Park

ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST

  • Daughtry
  • Eagles
  • Jordin Sparks

LATIN MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST

  • Enrique Iglesias
  • Juanes
  • Wisin Y Yandel

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

FAVORITE ARTIST

  • Casting Crowns
  • MercyMe
  • Third Day

T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

  • Colbie Caillat
  • Flo Rida
  • Jonas Brothers
  • Paramore
  • The-Dream

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • Lil Wayne
  • Chris Brown
  • Alicia Keys
  • Eagles
  • Coldplay

Award of Merit

  • Annie Lennox