:American Music Awards of 2021
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Short description|Annual event}}
{{Infobox award
| name = American Music Awards of 2021
| date = November 21, 2021
| most_nominations = Olivia Rodrigo (7)
| most_wins = {{hlist|BTS|Doja Cat|Megan Thee Stallion (3 each)}}
| next = 2022
| main = {{nowrap|AMA}}
| previous = 2020
| website = {{URL|theamas.com}}
| network = ABC
| image =
| venue = Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles
| host = Cardi B
| country = United States
| producer = Jesse Collins Entertainment
MRC Live & Alternative
| runtime =
| ratings =
| caption =
| viewership =
}}
The 49th Annual American Music Awards were held on November 21, 2021, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, recognizing the most popular artists, singles and albums of 2021.{{Cite web|last=Theater|first=Microsoft|title=American Music Awards {{!}} Microsoft Theater|url=https://www.microsofttheater.com/events/detail/amas21|access-date=October 30, 2021|website=www.microsofttheater.com|language=en}} Cardi B hosted the ceremony, following Queen Latifah (1995) as the only female rappers in history to do so.{{Cite magazine|title=Cardi B to Host 2021 American Music Awards|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9654159/cardi-b-host-2021-american-music-awards/|access-date=November 2, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=Hilary|date=November 2, 2021|title=Cardi B to Host the 2021 American Music Awards|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/cardi-b-host-amas-2021-1235040590/|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|author=Lisa Respers France|title=American Music Awards 2021: See who got nominated|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/28/entertainment/american-music-awards-2021-nominees/index.html|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=CNN}}{{Cite web|date=October 28, 2021|title=American Music Awards 2021: See the Complete List of Nominations|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1307496/american-music-awards-2021-see-the-complete-list-of-nominations|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=E! Online}}{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Kai|date=November 2, 2021|title=Okurr! Cardi B Is Hosting the 2021 American Music Awards—Find Out Who's Nominated and How to Watch|url=https://parade.com/1274867/kaigreen/american-music-awards-2021/|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays|language=en}} Cardi B became the first artist to win Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Song three times. BTS, Doja Cat, and Megan Thee Stallion won three awards each.
The ceremony was notable as the first produced under the banner of MRC Live & Alternative, which was formerly known as Dick Clark Productions after use of that name was phased out the month before.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=September 12, 2021|title=Adam Stotsky Named President Of MRC Live & Alternative As Dick Clark Prods. Name Is Phased Out|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/adam-stotsky-president-mrc-live-alternative-dick-clark-prods-name-phased-out-1234831125/|url-status=live|access-date=October 23, 2021|website=Deadline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913015306/https://deadline.com/2021/09/adam-stotsky-president-mrc-live-alternative-dick-clark-prods-name-phased-out-1234831125/ |archive-date=September 13, 2021 }} However, this would turn out to be the only year produced under this banner, as the Dick Clark Productions name was restored in August 2022.
Performances
Notes
- {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} Pre-recorded from Nashville, Tennessee
- {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} Pre-recorded from Tennessee State University
- {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} Megan Thee Stallion was originally planning to perform with BTS on "Butter", but pulled out "due to an unexpected personal matter".{{cite tweet |author=TINA SNOW |user=theestallion |number=1462109315892973578 |date=November 20, 2021 |title=Hotties I was so excited to go to the @AMAs and perform with @BTS_official, but due to an unexpected personal matter, I can no longer attend 😭😭I'm so sad! I really can't wait to hit the stage with my guys and perform #BTS_Butter real soon!💜 |language=en |access-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120174917/https://twitter.com/theestallion/status/1462109315892973578 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/megan-thee-stallion-bts-american-music-awards-2021-1235000821/|title=Megan Thee Stallion No Longer Performing With BTS at 2021 American Music Awards|last=Iasimone|first=Ashley|date=November 20, 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 21, 2021}}
Presenters
Presenters were announced on November 19, 2021.{{Cite magazine|title=Here Are All the Performers & Presenters for the 2021 American Music Awards|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2021-amas-performers-presenters-1235000233/|date=November 19, 2021|last=Grein|first=Paul|access-date=November 19, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}
- Cardi B – main show host
- Billy Porter – presented Latin Album
- Ansel Elgort & Rachel Zegler – presented Favorite Artist – Rock
- Cardi B introduced Coldplay & BTS
- Michelle Young – "coming up"
- JoJo Siwa – presented Pop Duo/Group
- Cardi B introduced Olivia Rodrigo
- Diplo – "coming up" (multiple segments)
- Brandy – presented Pop Album
- Cardi B introduced Tyler The Creator
- Cardi B introduced Bad Bunny, Tainy & Julieta Venegas
- Marsai Martin – presented Favorite Song – Hip-Hop
- Cardi B introduced Måneskin
- D-Nice – introduced performance by Chlöe
- JB Smoove – presented Favorite Song – Pop
- Cardi B introduced Jennifer Lopez
- Cardi B introduced Mickey Guyton
- Madelyn Cline – presented Favorite Trending Song
- Cardi B introduced Giveon
- Liza Koshy – presented Artist of the Year
- Anthony Ramos – presented Favorite Female Artist – Latin
- Cardi B introduced Walker Hayes
- Machine Gun Kelly – presented New Artist of the Year
- Winnie Harlow – introduced performance by Zoe Wees
- Cardi B introduced BTS
Winners and nominees
The nominations were announced on ABC's Good Morning America, Spotify's morning show "The Get Up", and also via the American Music Awards Twitter account on October 28, 2021. Olivia Rodrigo received the most nominations with seven, followed by the Weeknd with six, and Bad Bunny, Doja Cat and Giveon with five each.{{Cite web|last=Carras|first=Christi|date=October 28, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo and the Weeknd lead American Music Award nominees. See the full list|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-10-28/ama-nominations-2021-full-list-olivia-rodrigo|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=Hilary|date=October 28, 2021|title=American Music Awards: Olivia Rodrigo Tops 2021 Nominations|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/amas-2021-nominations-nominees-list-1235038372/|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}} BTS became the first Asian artist to receive Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. Three new categories were introduced in 2021: Favorite Trending Song, Favorite Latin Duo or Group, and Favorite Gospel Artist.{{cite web|date=October 28, 2021|title=Nominations Announced for the 2021 American Music Awards|url=https://www.theamas.com/2021/10/nominations-announced-for-the-2021-american-music-awards/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028211222/https://www.theamas.com/2021/10/nominations-announced-for-the-2021-american-music-awards/|archive-date=October 28, 2021|access-date=October 28, 2021|website=The AMAs.com}}
Additionally, it was announced towards the end of October that though country singer Morgan Wallen had two nominations, due to his personal conduct in 2020 and 2021 which saw his music removed from further publicity and the suspension of his recording contract, he was not allowed to attend the ceremony or accept any awards won remotely. The show's production company plans to evaluate his future conduct in including him in future ceremonies.{{cite web|last=Haring|first=Bruce|date=October 28, 2021|title=Morgan Wallen Banned From 2021 American Music Awards, But Door Left Open For Future Shows|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/morgan-wallen-banned-2021-ameican-music-awards-but-door-left-open-on-future-1234864660/|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029000525/https://deadline.com/2021/10/morgan-wallen-banned-2021-ameican-music-awards-but-door-left-open-on-future-1234864660/ |archive-date=October 29, 2021 }}
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.{{cite web|date=November 21, 2021|last1=McClellan|first1=Jennifer|last2=Alexander|first2=Bryan|title=AMAs winners list: Taylor Swift, Lil Nas X take early prizes; see more nominations|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/11/21/amas-2021-complete-winners-list/8705229002/|access-date=November 21, 2021|website=USA Today}}{{cite magazine|date=November 21, 2021|last=Atkinson|first=Katie|title=Here Are All the 2021 American Music Awards Winners: Updating Live|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2021-amas-winners-list-1235000924/|access-date=November 21, 2021|magazine=Billboard}}
| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Artist of the Year ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |New Artist of the Year |
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| style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Favorite Music Video
! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Collaboration of the Year |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Male Artist – Pop
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Female Artist – Pop |
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| style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Favorite Male Artist – Hip-Hop
! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Favorite Female Artist – Hip-Hop |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Male Artist – Country
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Female Artist – Country |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Male Artist – R&B
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Female Artist – R&B |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Male Artist – Latin
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Female Artist – Latin |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Artist – Rock
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Artist – Inspirational
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Artist – Gospel |
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| style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Favorite Duo or Group – Pop
! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Favorite Duo or Group – Country |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Duo or Group – Latin
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Trending Song |
valign="top" |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Song – Pop
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Album – Pop |
valign="top" |
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| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Song – Hip-Hop
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Album – Hip-Hop |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" | |
| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Song – Country
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Album – Country |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" | |
| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Song – R&B
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Album – R&B |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" | |
| style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Song – Latin
! style="background:#EEDD85; width=50%" |Favorite Album – Latin |
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