American Music Awards 2020: Everything you need to know ahead of the show Sunday
Awards season continues this weekend with the American Music Awards.
The ceremony, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, will broadcast live Sunday night from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, airing in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe.
Unlike many other awards shows, winners at the AMAs are decided by you, the public. Votes were cast earlier this year on the show's website, theamas.com. Nominees were selected based on sales data, radio airplay and interactions on social media.
This year’s ceremony will feature several new categories, including new rap and hip-hop honors and several new awards for Latin music. Ahead of the ceremony, here are some things you need to know:
When are the American Music Awards?
The three-hour ceremony airs Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
American Music Awards: The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch lead AMA nominations with 8 each
How can I watch?
In the U.S., catch the AMAs on ABC. If you have a provider login, you can also watch online at abc.com.
Who are the nominees?
The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch are the leading nominees with eight nods apiece. Both will compete for artist of the year against Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Taylor Swift. Megan Thee Stallion has five nominations, including for new artist of the year. Other contenders in that category include Ricch, Lewis Capaldi, Doja Cat, DaBaby and Lil Baby. Swift, Bieber, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, DaBaby and Doja Cat all have four nominations apiece. Swift has the chance to extend her lead as the most awarded artist in AMA history — she already has 29 wins.
Who are the performers?
Jennifer Lopez and Maluma are set to perform the world premiere of “Pa’ Ti” and "Lonely," two songs they co-wrote for the "Marry Me" soundtrack. It'll be Maluma's first AMAs performance. Katy Perry, a five-time AMA winner, is set to perform "Only Love" from her latest album, "Smile." Justin Bieber will return to the AMAs for the first time since 2016, performing hits “Holy” and “Lonely.” The Weeknd and Kenny G will team up for a live rendition of "In Your Eyes," and The Weeknd will also perform "Save Your Tears."
Other performers include Bad Bunny, Bebe Rexha with Doja Cat, Bell Biv DeVoe, BTS, Dan + Shay, Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi, Lil Baby, Lil Nas X, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Thee Stallion, Nelly and Shawn Mendes.
See the full list of AMA nominees below:
Artist of the year
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
Roddy Ricch
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
New artist of the year
Lewis Capaldi
Doja Cat
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Megan Thee Stallion
Collaboration of the year
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé, “Savage Remix”
Favorite social artist
BTS
Billie Eilish
EXO
Ariana Grande
NCT 127
Favorite music video
Doja Cat, “Say So”
Future featuring Drake “Life Is Good”
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Taylor Swift, “Cardigan”
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
Favorite male artist – Pop/rock
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
The Weeknd
Favorite female artist – Pop/rock
Dua Lipa
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
Favorite duo or group – Pop/rock
BTS
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
Favorite album – Pop/rock
Harry Styles, “Fine Line”
Taylor Swift, “Folklore”
The Weeknd, “After Hours”
Favorite song – Pop/rock
Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”
Post Malone, “Circles”
Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
Favorite male artist – Country
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Favorite female artist – Country
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Favorite duo or group – Country
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Favorite album – Country
Luke Combs, “What You See Is What You Get”
Blake Shelton, “Fully Loaded: God’s Country”
Morgan Wallen, “If I Know Me”
Favorite song – Country
Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Maren Morris, “The Bones”
Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, “Nobody But You”
Favorite male artist – Rap/hip-hop
DaBaby
Juice WRLD
Roddy Ricch
Favorite female artist – Rap/hip-hop
Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
Megan Thee Stallion
Favorite album – Rap/hip-hop
Lil Baby, “My Turn”
Lil Uzi Vert, “Eternal Atake”
Roddy Ricch, “Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial”
Favorite song – Rap/hip-hop
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
Favorite male artist – Soul/R&B
Chris Brown
John Legend
The Weeknd
Favorite female artist – Soul/R&B
Jhene Aiko
Doja Cat
Summer Walker
Favorite album – Soul/R&B
Doja Cat, “Hot Pink”
Summer Walker, “Over It”
The Weeknd, “After Hours”
Favorite song – Soul/R&B
Chris Brown featuring Drake, “No Guidance”
Summer Walker, “Playing Games”
The Weeknd, “Heartless”
Favorite male artist – Latin
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna
Favorite female artist – Latin
Becky G
Karol G
Rosalía
Favorite album – Latin
Anuel AA, ”Emmanuel”
Bad Bunny, “Las Que No Iban a Salir”
Bad Bunny, “YHLQMDLG”
Favorite song – Latin
Bad Bunny, “Vete”
Black Eyed Peas and J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
Karol G Nicki Minaj, “Tusa”
Favorite artist – Alternative rock
Billie Eilish
Tame Impala
Twenty One Pilots
Favorite artist – Adult contemporary
Lewis Capaldi
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
Favorite artist – Contemporary inspirational
Lauren Daigle
For King & Country
Kanye West
Favorite artist – Electronic dance music
Kygo
Lady Gaga
Marshmello
Favorite soundtrack
"Birds of Prey: The Album"
"Frozen II"
"Trolls: World Tour"
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American Music Awards: Who's performing? And how to watch the show
