American Music Awards 2012: Complete Winners List

Justin Bieber was named favorite artist of the year -the night’s top award – Sunday at the American Music Awards 2012. It was his third prize of the night.
The 18-year-old teen idol pulled his mother, Pattie Malette, onstage to help him accept the award. He said:

This is my mom. She’s little, but she’s beautiful.”

Bieber won the first award of the night -favorite pop/rock male artist – and he accepted with the comment:

I want to say this is for all the haters who thought that I was just here for one or two years. I feel like I’m going to be here for a very long time.”

Rapper Nicki Minaj also was a multiple winner, taking awards for favorite rap/hip hop album (for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded) and favorite rap/hip hop artist. She and Rihanna went into the ceremony with the most nominations – four each. Rihanna, who was on tour and did not attend, won an award for favorite soul/R&B album (for Talk That Talk).

Taylor Swift won her fifth consecutive award for favorite country female artist. She said:

This is unreal. I want to thank the fans. You guys are the ones who voted on this.”

Other awards went to Linkin Park for best alt rock artist, Luke Bryan for best male country artist and Usher for best male soul/R&B artist.

Usher opened the ceremony. Dressed in black leather pants, a black T-shirt and red high tops, the singer stepped onto the stage from a swirl of smoke and launched into a medley of songs, including Numb, Climax and Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.

Minaj performed her new single Freedom. She was in an all-white get-up, including fur coat and pink hair. The scene was ghostly and snowy, as a choir also in white joined her onstage. One background singer stole the performance, belting semi-high notes as Minaj looked on.

Swift gave a masquerade-themed performance of the pop song I Knew You Were Trouble. She sang onstage in a light dress while dancers wore mostly black. But then she changed into a red corset and black skirt, matching their dark mood. She even danced and sang on the floor as lights flickered throughout the performance.

Kelly Clarkson also hit the stage, making a nod to her American Idol roots with a number on her dress and three people in judge chairs looking on as she sang Miss Independent. Then she went into Since U Been Gone, Stronger and Catch My Breath.

Party girl Ke$ha was glammed up on the red carpet, rocking long, flowy blonde hair and a light pink dress. Nicki Minaj and Christina Aguilera were blonde bombshells, too: Minaj’s hair was busy and full of volume and she sported a neon sleeveless dress. Aguilera wore a blonde bob cut and in purple dress that matched her eye shadow.

The South Korean Internet sensation PSY closed the show with a performance of his viral hit “Gangnam Style,” and was joined on stage by surprise guest MC Hammer! Psy tweeted before taking the stage:

How lucky I am!! Gonna be the Closing of #AMAs!! #HammerTime.”

Earlier in the night, Psy hit the red carpet and even took time to sign autographs for fans before heading inside to enjoy the show.

Check out the complete list of American Music Awards winners below:

Artist of the Year

WINNER: Justin Bieber
Drake
Maroon 5
Katy Perry
Rihanna

New Artist of the Year

WINNER: Carly Rae Jepsen
J. Cole
fun.
Gotye
One Direction

Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock

WINNER: Justin Bieber
Flo Rida
Pitbull
Usher

Favorite Album – Pop/Rock

WINNER: Justin Bieber – Believe
Maroon 5 – Overexposed
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
One Direction – Up All Night

Favorite Male Artist – Country

WINNER: Luke Bryan
Jason Aldean
Eric Church

Favorite Female Artist – Country

WINNER: Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood

Favorite Band, Duo or Group – Country

WINNER: Lady Antebellum
Zac Brown Band
Rascal Flatts

Favorite Album – Country

WINNER: Carrie Underwood – Blown Away
Luke Bryan – Tailgates & Tanlines
Lionel Richie – “Tuskegee”

Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop

WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Drake
Tyga

Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop

WINNER: Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story
Drake – Take Care

Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B

WINNER: Usher
Chris Brown
Trey Songz

Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock

WINNER: Linkin Park
The Black Keys
Gotye

Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)

WINNER: David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Skrillex

Awards not announced during broadcast:

Favorite Female Artist – Pop / Rock

Kelly Clarkson
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry
Rihanna

Favorite Band, Duo or Group – Pop / Rock

fun.
Maroon 5
One Direction
The Wanted

Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B

Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna

Favorite Album – Soul/R&B

Chris Brown – Fortune
Rihanna – Talk That Talk
Usher – Looking 4 Myself

Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary

Adele
Kelly Clarkson
Train

Favorite Artist – Latin

Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira

Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational

Jeremy Camp
Newsboys
tobyMac

And here are the celebrities’ red carpet arrivals:

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