The 2022 American Music Awards included some not-so-shocking wins but also a handful of memorable performances. Wayne Brady hosted the world's largest fan-voted awards show live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, with the ceremony airing on ABC.
The big moments of the night: 2022's reigning anti-hero, Taylor Swift, strutted off with the awards for Artist of the Year and Favorite Pop Album, the latter for a record she technically released in 2012. Red (Taylor's Version), her retooled version of what many consider her apex, clearly wowed fans as much this year as the original did a decade ago. Taking to the stage, she thanked not only her band, but also the stars of the LP's accompanying visual All Too Well: The Short Film, Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf), who play a troubled couple in it. Smart move, given that the film scored an award for Favorite Music Video later in the evening.
Meanwhile, Harry Styles scooped up hardware for Favorite Pop Song for "As It Was" — no surprise considering the hit single was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4,000 weeks. Dove Cameron took home the award for New Artist of the Year, dedicating it to the queer community. Machine Gun Kelly accepted his trophy for Favorite Rock Artist, looking very, very sharp. Wizkid scored Favorite Afrobeats Artist. And a stunning Anitta (no, please stop what you're doing and take in her glowing magnificence in full because... sheesh) was anointed Favorite Female Latin Artist. She also invited none other than Missy Elliott to perform with her on her song "Lobby" during the event, so she won not only that award, but kinda the night.
Aside from the brass, Pink delivered a special tribute to late singer-actress Olivia Newton-John, who died earlier this year. As she belted out her classic Grease ballad "Hopelessly Devoted to You," the crowd sang along, clearly moved by the performance.
However, the highlight of the evening was a charming tribute to Lionel Richie, who was honored with the Icon Award. Fellow Motown legend Stevie Wonder and Lionel devotee Charlie Puth exchanged off-the-cuff banter over their pianos as they ran through the R&B icon's hits, including "Hello," "Say You, Say Me," "All Night Long," and "Easy," and the whole thing felt loose, fun, and, well, easy — in the best way. Please excuse us while we head out to go dancing on the ceiling.
You, though, should check out the full list of winners below.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Adele
- Bad Bunny
- Beyoncé
- Drake
- Harry Styles
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- WINNER: Dove Cameron
- 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"
- WINNER: Elton John & Dua Lipa, "Cold Heart — PNAU Remix"
- 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
- WINNER: Coldplay
- 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"
- WINNER: Taylor Swift, "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)"
FAVORITE MALE POP ARTIST
- Bad Bunny
- Drake
- Ed Sheeran
- WINNER: Harry Styles
- The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTIST
- Adele
- Beyoncé
- Doja Cat
- Lizzo
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
FAVORITE POP DUO OR GROUP
- WINNER: BTS
- Coldplay
- Imagine Dragons
- Måneskin
- OneRepublic
FAVORITE POP ALBUM
- Adele, 30
- Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
- Beyoncé, Renaissance
- Harry Styles, Harry's House
- WINNER: Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor's Version)
- 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"
- WINNER: Harry Styles, "As It Was"
- Lizzo, "About Damn Time"
- The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber, "Stay"
FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST
- Chris Stapleton
- Cody Johnson
- Luke Combs
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
- Walker Hayes
FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST
- Carrie Underwood
- Lainey Wilson
- Maren Morris
- Miranda Lambert
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUP
- WINNER: Dan + Shay
- 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
- WINNER: Taylor Swift: Red (Taylor's Version)
- 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"
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen, "Wasted on You"
FAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
- Drake
- Future
- WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
- Lil Baby
- Lil Durk
FAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
- Cardi B
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- WINNER: Nicki Minaj
FAVORITE HIP-HOP ALBUM
- Future, I Never Liked You
- Gunna, DS4EVER
- WINNER: Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
- Lil Durk, 7220
- Polo G, Hall of Fame 2.0
FAVORITE HIP-HOP SONG
- WINNER: Future ft. Drake & Tems, "Wait for U"
- 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
- WINNER: Chris Brown
- GIVĒON
- Lucky Daye
- The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST
- WINNER: Beyoncé
- Doja Cat
- Muni Long
- Summer Walker
- SZA
FAVORITE R&B ALBUM
- WINNER: Beyoncé, Renaissance
- 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
- WINNER: 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"
FAVORITE MALE LATIN ARTIST
- WINNER: Bad Bunny
- Farruko
- J Balvin
- Jhayco
- Rauw Alejandro
FAVORITE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST
- WINNER: Anitta
- Becky G
- Kali Uchis
- Karol G
- ROSALÍA
FAVORITE LATIN DUO OR GROUP
- Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
- Calibre 50
- Eslabon Armado
- Grupo Firme
- WINNER: Yahritza Y Su Esencia
FAVORITE LATIN ALBUM
- WINNER: Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
- 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, "Mamii"
- Karol G, "Provenza"
- Rauw Alejandro, "Todo de Ti"
- WINNER: Sebastián Yatra, "Dos Oruguitas"
FAVORITE ROCK ARTIST
- Imagine Dragons
- WINNER: Machine Gun Kelly
- Måneskin
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- The Lumineers
FAVORITE ROCK SONG **New**
- Foo Fighters, "Love Dies Young"
- Imagine Dragons x JID, "Enemy"
- Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)"
- WINNER: Måneskin, "Beggin'"
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Black Summer"
FAVORITE ROCK ALBUM **New**
- Coldplay, Music of the Spheres
- WINNER: Ghost, Impera
- Imagine Dragons, Mercury – Act 1
- Machine Gun Kelly, Mainstream Sellout
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Unlimited Love
FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST
- Anne Wilson
- WINNER: For King & Country
- Katy Nichole
- Matthew West
- Phil Wickham
FAVORITE GOSPEL ARTIST
- CeCe Winans
- Doe
- E. Dewey Smith
- Maverick City Music
- WINNER: Tamela Mann
FAVORITE DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST
- Diplo
- WINNER: Marshmello
- Swedish House Mafia
- The Chainsmokers
- Tiësto
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
- WINNER: Elvis
- Encanto
- Sing 2
- Stranger Things season 4
- Top Gun: Maverick
FAVORITE AFROBEATS ARTIST **New**
- Burna Boy
- CKay
- Fireboy DML
- Tems
- WINNER: Wizkid
FAVORITE K-POP ARTIST **New**
- Blackpink
- WINNER: BTS
- Seventeen
- Tomorrow x Together
- Twice