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The American Music Awards -- Most Iconic Moments In History
The American Music Awards have become a Hollywood staple -- consistently capturing music at its most commercial, chaotic, and culture-defining moments all in one night. Let's hone in on the iconic moments that have made music history!
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1985 -- Prince Performs "Purple Rain"
Prince gave a legendary performance of "Purple Rain," pairing raw emotion with a guitar solo that cemented his superstar status.
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1996 -- Garth Brooks Rejects Artist of the Year
Garth Brooks left the crowd stunned when he flat-out refused to accept the “Artist of the Year” trophy, walking away and leaving it sitting solo on the podium -- this move instantly hijacked the night.
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2001 -- Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake Show Up In Matching Denim
This iconic fashion photo does all the talking ... Say less!
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2002 -- Britney Spears Bridges Girlhood and Stardom
Britney Spears had the entire crowd locked in with a surprisingly moving performance of “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” at the American Music Awards -- shifting her teen idol vibes from sexy to emotional.
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2003 -- Eminem “Calls In” His Acceptance Speech
"8 Mile's" Mekhi Phifer accepted awards on Eminem's behalf -- he had the crowd cracking up claiming the rapper was listening live on his cellphone the entire time.
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2004 -- Kanye West Storms Out After Loss
Kanye West had one of his earliest public crash out moments when he reportedly stormed out after losing Best New Artist. The snub kicked off what would become a (very) long history of Kanye award-show controversies.
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2008 - Beyoncé Performs "Single Ladies"
Beyoncé proved once again why she’s basically pop culture royalty, delivering an instantly iconic performance of “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” while promoting her "I Am... Sasha Fierce" album.
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2009 -- Adam Lambert’s Controversial AMAs Performance
Adam Lambert left viewers stunned after kissing a male dancer, super explicit choreography, and dancers rocking leashes. His performance sparked thousands of complaints ... and a temporary ban from ABC.
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2010 -- Rihanna Performs "Only Girl (In the World)"
Rihanna always leaves it out on the stage ... This performance was a full blown pop-takeover moment!
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2011 -- LMFAO Ends the Show in "Party Rock" Fashion Ft. Justin Bieber
LMFAO turned the the entire award show into his own party with “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It” -- not to mention Justin Bieber showed up out of nowhere, sending the crowd into a Bieber Fever frenzy!
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2013 -- Gaga’s Red Carpet Entrance on a Horse
Lady Gaga did what Lady Gaga does best: she showed up and made the red carpet her own personal stage. She busted in on a human powered white horse. This instantly set the tone for one of her most unforgettable award show appearances.
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2013 -- Miley Cyrus Performs “Wrecking Ball”
Oh Miley… she really doesn’t do “normal," and that's why we love her! She hit the stage with a strong vocal take on “Wrecking Ball,” while singing in front of a giant crying holographic cat?!
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2014 -- Selena Gomez’s Emotional Breakup Performance
We all know Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber's on-and-off saga basically defined the 2010s… and Selena leaned in with a raw, emotional debut of “The Heart Wants What It Wants,” which was widely seen as a not-so-subtle hint at her recent breakup with JB.
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2014 -- Taylor Swift’s Fiery “Blank Space” Chaos
TSwift committed to all the “boy crazy” jokes people love to throw at her. She opened the performance with a wildly unhinged rendition of “Blank Space,” fully going along with the “crazy ex” persona: burning roses, flaming props, and a dramatic finale where she literally takes out a male dancer.
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2015 -- Justin Bieber Performs "Sorry"
What’s better than a JB performance?! A JB performance in fake rain! The Biebs closed out the American Music Awards with a slick three-song medley from "Purpose." He took it to the next with a drenched, dramatic finale that had the whole room shook!
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2015 -- Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor Share A Kiss
After performing “Marvin Gaye,” Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor went for a very steamy on-stage kiss that immediately blew up online. Even though the majority deemed the kiss cringe, it still holds down as a legendary AMA's moment!
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2015 -- One Direction Performed Their Hit Single "Perfect"
These lyrics will definitely take you back to One D's show-stopping performance: "But if you like causing trouble up in hotel rooms. And if you like having secret little rendezvous. If you like to do the things you know that we shouldn't do .. Then, baby, I'm perfect. Baby, I'm perfect for you!"
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2015 -- Celine Dion Performed A Tribute to Paris
Celine Dion always knows how to get fans in their feelings. She delivered a top-tier performance of “Hymne à L’Amour” honoring the victims of the November 2015 Paris attacks, with glowing Paris landmarks behind her.
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2019 -- Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes Perform A Steamy "Señorita"
Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes brought the heat with a super intimate performance of “Señorita,” and their undeniable chemistry took over the whole stage ... Even Taylor Swift was taken aback.
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2025 — Jennifer Lopez Opens the AMA's
J.Lo opened the AMA's with a wild 23-song medley. And of course, she didn’t hold back, even throwing in a couple viral on-stage kisses with her dancers ...
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2025 -- Benson Boone’s Backflip Finale
Benson Boone is known for his flips ... He brought full energy to “Mystical Magical,” rocking a bold purple suit before ending the set the only way he knows how: with his signature backflip!
