American Music Awards
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Anitta took the stage at the American Music Awards for the first time at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night (Nov. 20) — with a very special guest in tow.
The Brazilian pop star began her performance with a sultry bit of her Global Excl. US chart-topping smash “Envolver,” grinding with one of her backup dancers while another one cavorted solo in a gigantic cocktail glass. Then, the song transitioned to her 2022 single “Lobby,” with the set also turning over to a hotel backdrop — with a bar and an elevator in the background, and even a bellhop luggage cart for Anitta to be pushed around in while singing.
Then, rap icon and “Lobby” collaborator Missy Elliott arrived to do her verse on the song, while sporting a sparkly Versace suit and gigantic sunglasses. The two artists ended the number trading off vocals next to one another, embracing as the high-energy performance came to a close.
Anitta is also a first-time nominee at the 2022 American Music Awards, nominated in the category of favorite female Latin artist. Elliott is a two-time winner at the AMAs, receiving favorite rap/hip-hop female artist in both 2003 and 2005.
“Envolver” was not only Anitta’s biggest hit to date on the Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts, it also marked her first unaccompanied solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 70 in April. Missy was a fixture on the Hot 100 throughout the late ’90s and early ’00s, achieving her highest-charting single to date in 2002 with the No. 2-peaking “Work It.”
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Bebe Rexha was fittingly blue for her performance at the 2022 AMAs on Sunday (Nov. 20) — the singer took to the stage to perform her and David Guetta‘s dance hit “I’m Good (Blue).”
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To fit the song’s dance and techno elements — an interpolation of Eiffel 65’s 1998 single “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” — Rexha appeared on stage in a metallic silver corset ensemble with matching sliver tights and heels while performing the track.
Accompanied by backup dancers clad in blue tops and shiny pleather blue pant ensembles, Rexha sang the song’s infectious chorus, “‘Cause I’m good, yeah, I’m feelin’ alright/ Baby, I’ma have the best f—in’ night of my life/ And wherever it takes me, I’m down for the ride/ Baby, don’t you know I’m good, yeah, I’m feelin’ alright.”
“I’m Good (Blue)” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at No. 2 on both the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts; on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, the track hit No. 1 and is on its eleventh week on the chart.
Speaking with Billboard about the track’s success, Rexha said, “Never did I think in a million years that it would be so big … I guess people want to feel that 2000s nostalgia, especially after the three years of a pandemic and being cooped in their houses. It brings back that feeling of nostalgia, and it makes you feel kind of warm. I will put my hands up on this one and say I get it, but I’m also confused and shocked, but also very grateful.”
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Upon winning the new artist of the year trophy at the 2022 American Music Awards on Sunday night (Nov. 20), Dove Cameron dedicated the victory to the queer community, following the tragic shooting inside the LGBTQ+ nightclub Club Q in Colorado Springs the night before.
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“I want to start by saying that every award that I ever win will always be first and foremost dedicated to the queer community at large,” Cameron, whose breakthrough single “Boyfriend” brought a queer anthem to top 40 radio this year, told the AMAs crowd from the podium. “You guys have carved out such a space for me to be myself and to write music about it, and I’ve never felt safer or more loved and more supported, and I hope I can give you some semblance of that same feeling in my music.
“On the heels of the tragedy that happened at Club Q in Colorado Springs, I want to remind everyone how important queer visibility is, and how important our community is,” Cameron continued. “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.”
Five people were killed and at least 25 people were injured late Saturday night at Club Q in Colorado Springs after a 22-year-old gunman opened fire. The music world reacted to the hate attack throughout Sunday, with artists including Kacey Musgraves, FINNEAS and Adam Lambert offering condolences to victims of the tragedy.
Cameron’s new artist of the year win marks the former Disney star’s first AMAs win. “Boyfriend” peaked at No. 16 on the Hot 100 chart earlier this year.
If roller disco is well and truly dead, then consider P!nk its pallbearer — the pop superstar opened up the 2022 American Music Awards on Sunday (Nov. 20) with a high-energy tribute to the beloved pastime.
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Opening up her performance with a pre-taped segment from the streets of Los Angeles, P!nk — clad in pastel-colored bolero jacket and light-up pink roller skates — asked a construction worker, “Do you think the world is ending?” Not getting a definitive answer (“I think it’s slipping on its axis,” he insisted), she instead resolved to dance to her new single “Never Gonna Not Dance Again,” a disco-infused pop jam dedicated solely to having a good time in the midst of less-than-great circumstances.
Soon enough, the star found herself skating through the crowd of the Microsoft Theater, which she temporarily transformed into “P!nk’s Rink.” Complete with rainbow-colored neon lights, and a bevy of half-pipe-riding backup dancers, the star brought the crowd to its feet before concluding her number with a conga line on wheels.
P!nk was just the first of what would be a slew of performers at Sunday night’s show; hosted by Wayne Brady, the event was set to feature high-profile performances from Anitta, Ari Lennox, Bebe Rexha, Charlie Puth, Dove Cameron and many more.
Bad Bunny led all artists at Sunday night’s show with a whopping eight nominations. Other superstars, including Beyoncé, Drake, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Adele, The Weeknd and Future, closely followed behind. Keep up to date on who took home which awards here.
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Bad Bunny leads the 2022 American Music Awards list of nominees with eight nods, but the Latin star was far from the only leader at the 2022 AMAs when it came to fashion. Everyone from TXT to Dove Cameron to P!nk brought eye-grabbing threads to the red carpet at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
With pop star and Dance Moms alum kenzie interviewing fellow artists and celebrities for Billboard News, there was a lot going on before the show even got started. Check out kenzie’s AMAs red carpet coverage on Billboard.com, as well as Billboard‘s Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube pages.
As for the show itself, Wayne Brady is hosting the ABC broadcast on Sunday (Nov. 20), which starts at 8 p.m. ET. Taylor Swift, Drake and Beyonce follow Bunny with six nominations for AMAs. P!nk is slated to perform a special tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John during the show.
A living legend – Lionel Richie – will be honored with the icon award at the 2022 AMAs. Richie was recently inducted into the class of 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “Do you know how wonderful it is to walk into a room and people start smiling?” Richie told Billboard backstage at the Rock Hall induction ceremony. “I’m not playing. I’m walking into a dinner, I’m walking into a restaurant, I’m walking my kids to school. What I’m saying is I don’t know how you get this blessed, but it’s a moment in time when you realize the songs have translated over into this thing called love.”