American Music Awards: Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Halsey, BTS Big Winners

American Music Awards 2019

This year's AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS came off like a preview of next JANUARY's GRAMMY ceremony, with a lineup that included GRAMMY snub TAYLOR SWIFT, rookie phenom BILLIE EILISH, multiple GRAMMY nominees POST MALONE, resplendent in plaid suit on the red carpet, and "Truth" teller  LIZZO, who had perhaps the evening's most incendiary performance

TAYLOR SWIFT, who took home awards for ARTIST OF THE YEAR and FAVORITE ALBUM -- POP/ROCK for "Lover," was the night's big story, accepting the ARTIST OF THE DECADE award from CAROLE KING. Defying the likes of SCOOTER BRAUN, she wore a jacket that listed all the albums she no longer owns in her catalog, then performed a medley. starting with "The Man," into older hits like "Love Story,,' "I Knew You Were Trouble," "Blank Space" and "Shake It Off," joined on-stage for the latter by HALSEY and CAMILA CABELLO in an impressive show of female camaraderie, with "Lover" capping off a triumphant turn by elegant ballet dancer MISTY COPELAND.  Her award for FAVORITE ALBUM gave SWIFT the most wins in AMA history with 25, topping MICHAEL JACKSON's record.

"The fact that this award celebrates a decade of fun and memory, all that matters to me is the memories that I have with you guys, the fans, over the years," said SWIFT in her acceptance speech.

The evening's other big winner, BILLIE EILISH, took home awards for NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR and FAVORITE ARTIST -- ALTERNATIVE/ROCK, the first-ever female solo performer to win in the category.  Her fiery performance of "All the Good Girls Go to Hell" was a highlight of the telecast.

The evening's first award went to K-Pop phenoms BTS for FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP -- POP/ROCK (the first non-ENGLISH act ever to win the award) followed by TOUR OF THE YEAR honors. SELENA GOMEZ opened the show with an emotionally charged "Lost You to Love Me," and "Look at Her Now," her two recently released singles, the audience helping her along by singing the words,, including a cheering TAYLOR SWIFT and HALSEY, standing side-by-side in the front row.

LIZZO's stormy, JOPLIN-esque torcher "Jerome" brought down the house, making it difficult for a game THOMAS RHETT,, who followed with a nevertheless rapturously received "Look What God Gave Her." CAMILA CABELLO and SHAWN MENDES then steamed up the airwaves with their suitably sensuous "Senorita," while KESHA surprised everyone with an old-school "TiK ToK" and a "take-it-to-the-church" inspired "Raising Hell," featuring BIG FREEDIA, that delighted the house. TONI BRAXTON kept the nostalgia drive in gear with show-stopping takes on "Un-Break My Heart" and "Breathe Again," pretty much slaying the wowed crowd. 

BILLIE EILISH offered one of the night's true show-stoppers, donning bat wings amid a fiery backdrop for a stunning "All the Good Girls Go To Hell" that will be tough to beat at the GRAMMYS. TYLER, THE CREATOR introduced her as "a 17-year-old girl who dressed like a quarterback," and unseated his own album, "Igor," from the top of the BILLBOARD 200. She stuck out her tongue like MICHAEL JORDAN in delight at the close.  

HALSEY's paint-splattered "Graveyard" was followed by GREEN DAY turning back the clock to punk-rock "Dookie" days with a rousing "Basket Case" that got the audience to its feet after starting with the title track to their upcoming album, "Father of All MFs." CAMILA CABELLO returned for a heavenly solo turn, elegant in all-white on the new track "Living Proof," before JONAS BROTHERS' spirited take on "Only Human," performing live from their "Happiness Begins" tour in BOSTON.

Other highlights included collaborations between CHRISTINA AGUILERA and A GREAT BIG WORLD (a majestic "Fall On Me," "Say Something") and an all -star POST MALONE set featuring OZZY OSBOURNE, TRAVIS SCOTT and ANDREW WATT. ("Take What You Want," "Circles"). Performances by  DUA LIPA ("Don't Start Now"), then SHANIA TWAIN closed out the night. . 

The show took place at L.A.'s MICROSOFT THEATER, hosted for the first time by CIARA, starting at 8p ET/PT, with a delayed WEST COAST feed on ABC.  

POST MALONE led the field of AMA nominees with seven, followed by ARIANA GRANDE and BILLIE EILISH with six apiece,. .

HALSEY's, "Without Me"  won for FAVORITE SONG -- POP/ROCK), as the outspoken artist offered a not-so-subtle eff-you to the GRAMMYS in her acceptance speech.

Still more: DAN + SHAY (FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP -- COUNTRY), CARRIE UNDERWOOD, "Cry Pretty" (FAVORITE ALBUM/FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST -- COUNTRY)..SHAWN MENDES & CAMILA CABELLO, "Senorita" (COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR), POST MALONE, "Hollywood's Bleeding" (FAVORITE ALBUM -- RAP/HIP-HOP), LIL NAS X f/BILLY RAY CYRUS, "Old Town Road" (FAVORITE SONG RAP/HIP-HOP).

For a running list of winners, go here. 

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