Awards & Festivals:American Music Awards:45th (2017)

45th Annual American Music Awards (2017)

Welcome to our coverage of the 45th American Music Awards. The nominations were announced by Ciara on ABC's Good Morning America on October 12th, 2017, while the ceremony took place on Sunday, November 19 at 8:00pm ET at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

8:00 PM

Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corrina give a serious introduction that talks about how 2017 tested the faith of Americans due to natural disasters and incidents of domestic and international terrorism. He introduced the first responders who always run towards these incidents when everyone else is running away. Foxx says that "together our strength will pull us trhough" then introduces a performance of the R.E.M. classic "Everybody Hurts" by Pink and Kelly Clarkson. They get a standing ovation at the end.

8:07 PM

Tonight's host is the star of ABC's Black-ish, Tracee Ellis Ross. She says she's thrilled to host because it's a special night. Her mother, the legendary Diana Ross, is being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. She says it the first time a mother and daughter have both hosted the AMAs as Ross hosted it a few decades ago. She mentions that she auditoned to be the host of the reboot of American Idol and breaks into song, Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This." Ross says she's intimidated to be hosting because she's so differnt from other hosts: she has no album and no feuds with other artists. Getting serious she talks about the brave women have started a movement by discussing their experiences with abuse and harassment.

8:12 PM

Ross introduces Demi Lovato, who sings "Sorry Not Sorry".

8:15 PM

Chadwick Boseman, from the film Black Panther, presents Favorite Pop/Rock Duo or Group. And the American Music Award goes to Imagine Dragons. They accept the award saying that the country they know has powerful women, is LGBTQ-positive and has peace, love and equality for all.

8:22 PM

Ross introduces Lea Michelle and Chris Hardwick, who in turn introduce a performance of "Find You" by Nick Jonas.

8:26 pM

Haillee Steinfeld and Florida Georgia Line then perform "Let Me Go."

8:30 PM

Nick Cannon announces that he'll soon be presenting New Artist.

8:35 PM

Ciara is presenting the award for Rap/Hip-Hop Song. And the American Music Award goes to DJ Khaled for "I'm the One".

8:38 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross introduces Lilly Singh and Sabrina Carpenter who intros Shawn Mendes' performance "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back."

8:47 PM

Julia Michaels introduces a performance of "Wolves" by Selena and Marshmello.

8:52 PM

Kathryn Hahn and Justin Hartley are presenting Country Male. And the American Music Award goes to Keith Urban. Like some award shows, the results are known to the winners beforehand as without opening any envelopes, Hahm lets Urban know that he's also won Favorite Country Song and Favorite Country Album.

8:55 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross mentions the upcoming tribute of The Bodyguard soundtrack that will be performed by Christina Aguilera.

9:01 PM

Riverdale castmembers Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart, KJ Apa and Madelaine Petsch present Favorite Artist — Electronic Dance Music. And the American Music Award goes to The Chainsmokers.

9:03 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross introduces actress Viola Davis. Viola gets an ovation from the crowd before she talks about the 25th anniversary of Whitney Houston's soundtrack for The Bodyguard. Christina Aguilera performs a medley of songs from the album.

9:18 PM

Jenna Dewan Tatum and Billy Eichner present Adult Contemporary. And the American Music Award goes to Shawn Mendes. Wait...Mom's are listening to Shawn Mendes? Or are adults getting younger?

9:21 PM

Heidi Klum intros a sonf from Lady Gaga who is performing in Washington D.C.

9:30 PM

G-Eazy and DJ Khaled? intro a performance of "Glorious" by Macklemore and Sklyar Gray.

9:34 PM

Portugal. The Man perform "Feel It Steel."

9:37 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross wears an outfit that was inspired by a special her mother did where she performed with Michael Jackson.

9:42 PM

Three of the cast of Netflix's Stranger Things — Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, and Gaten Matarazzo — intro a performance of "Stay" by Zedd and Alessia Cara.

9:46 PM

Ansel Elgort and Black-ish star Yara Shahidi present the category of Pop/Rock Female. And the American Music Award goes to Lady Gaga. Again no surprise, because they just happen to have a statuette to present to her in Washington. It's always funny to see the winners act surprised when they already know.

9:49 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross is back to introduce a perfomance mash-up of "Young Dumb & Broke" and "Thunder" by Khalid and Imagine Dragons.

9:53 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross stands on the fourth floor of the nearby JW Marriott hotel to say that Pink's aerial performance is getting closer.

9:58 PM

Nick Cannon is now presenting New Artist of the Year. And the American Music Award goes to Niall Horan. Really? The guy's been in One Direction for years, but a solo album makes him a new artist?

10:01 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross introduces a gravity-defying performace of "A Beautiful Trauma" by Pink, who is suspended on the side of the JW Marriott hotel.

10:11 PM

Laura Marano and Patrick Schwarzenegger present Collaboration of the Year. And the American Music Award goes to Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber for “Despacito.”

10:13 PM

Kat Graham and Kelly Rowland introduce Niall Horan performing "Slow Hands."

10:22 PM

Shark Tank present Alternative Rock Artist. And the American Music Award goes to Linkin Park. They take a while getting to the stage, so the Sharks begin to walk off, running back with the trophy when they see them. The band pys tribute to their late lead singer, Chester Bennington, who committed suicide earlier this year.

10:24 PM

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Chrissy Metz introduce a performance by Kelly Clarkson. Can't believe her Idol win was 15 years ago. She's singing "Miss Independent" and "Love So Soft."

10:34 PM

Tracee Ellis Ross intoduces The Chainsmokers, who in turn present a performance of "DNA" by BTS.

10:39 PM

Jared Leto is handing out Artist of the Year. And the American Music Award goes to Bruno Mars. Another example that the winners know ahead of time, as Mars gives appears in a pre-recorded acceptance speech from the back of a minivan.

10:42 PM

Barack and Michelle Obama pay tribute to Diana Ross is a pre-taped segment.

10:47 PM

Evan Ross introduces a film segment on the Lifetime Achievement Winner — and his mother — Diana Ross.

10:51 PM

Miss Ross takes to the stage to perform a medley of her hits, near the end she invites her little grandkids up on the stage as well as her children, Smokey Robinson and Motown founder Berry Gordy.

Here are the nominees and winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

The Chainsmokers
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

James Arthur
Niall Horan
Julia Michaels
Post Malone
Rae Sremmurd

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, “Closer”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne, “I’m The One”
Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar, “Don’t Wanna Know”
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk, “Starboy”

TOUR OF THE YEAR

Garth Brooks
Coldplay
U2

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, “Despacito”
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

Drake
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

Alessia Cara
Lady Gaga
Rihanna

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK

The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK

Drake, More Life
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic
The Weeknd, Starboy

FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK

The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, “Closer”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY

Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Keith Urban

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY

Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY

Florida Georgia Line
Little Big Town
Old Dominion

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY

Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know
Chris Stapleton, From a Room:, Vol. 1
Keith Urban, Ripcord

FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY

Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”
Jon Pardi, “Dirt on My Boots”
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP

Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Migos

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP

Drake, More Life
Kendrick Lamar, Damn.
Migos, Culture

FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP

DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne, “I’m The One”
Kendrick Lamar, “Humble.”
Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane, “Black Beatles”