Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock (13629360au)
American Music Awards, Press Room, Los Angeles, California, USA - 20 Nov 2022
I actually don't hate this -- the jumpsuit and the waves in her hair are a nice retro feel for Taylor. I wish it were a richer gold, somehow? It's very pale.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock (13629360ar)
American Music Awards, Press Room, Los Angeles, California, USA - 20 Nov 2022
I'm bummed that Taylor skipped the red carpet, but we knew she HAD to show up -- there's no way they wouldn't have tipped her off, because a) I think the AMAs tips off all its winners, because most of the major nominees didn't show, and b) she was winning THIS many awards. Five statues to a no-show would've been a bummer of a telecast.
Anitta in Issey Miyake
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock (13629360q)
Anitta
American Music Awards, Press Room, Los Angeles, California, USA - 20 Nov 2022
Anitta found a way to have a navel without actually showing her own.
Yola
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock (13629360ak)
Yola
American Music Awards, Press Room, Los Angeles, California, USA - 20 Nov 2022
This is a HOOT and I wish I were wearing those boots right now.
Niecy Nash
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock (13629360n)
Niecy Nash
American Music Awards, Press Room, Los Angeles, California, USA - 20 Nov 2022
I don't know why she didn't just wear this on the red carpet! It has a lot more personality than the plain black dress she picked.
with Wayne Brady
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862ca)
Host Wayne Brady, left, and Niecy Nash introduce a performance by Anitta and Missy Elliott at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
Wayne also looked nice in his crisp suit. He was an okay host. He made it about himself a lot in a way that I didn't think was necessary, like doing a Whose Line bit (which was intro'd by D-Nice telling him what a great and talented host he is). And his musical number about the AMAs was bland. I wanted it to be funny. I just... keep the show moving. It is RARE that a mid-show bit does anything but sap the momentum.
Wayne Brady
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862dm)
Host Wayne Brady speaks at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
I always appreciate a floral.
Wayne Brady
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862h)
Host Wayne Brady speaks at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
But this was my favorite of his suits -- also, the one in which he opened the show.
Pink
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862m)
Pink performs "Never Gonna Not Dance Again" at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
However, Pink was the TRUE opener. It was interesting to see -- she choreographed it so that this guy was behind her most of the time with his hands on or near her hips, which I think was her fail-safe. WISE. One of the skaters on the ramps doing tricks nearly fell.
Pink
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862ec)
Pink performs "Hopelessly Devoted To You" during a tribute to the late singer Olivia Newton-John at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
This was for her rendition if "Hopelessly Devoted To You." I'm sort of sad she didn't do "Physical." Pink would slay that.
Carrie Underwood
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862bp)
Carrie Underwood performs "Crazy Angels" at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood seems to think SHE is now Pink. And she is actually kind of dressed for "Physical."
Bebe Rexha
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862ap)
Bebe Rexha performs "I'm Good (Blue)" at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
Bebe performed a remix/rewrite/whatever of Eiffel 65's "I'm Blue (Da Ba Dee)." She's intriguing to me -- she didn't quite catch on her own, so they tossed her into a Florida Georgia Line song, which did well but then never led to anything else for her, so now she's doing this club banger with David Guetta. Keep pressing and see what takes, I guess. I admire the hustle.
Anitta
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862bn)
Anitta performs at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
I appreciate any choreography that involves baggage handling.
with Missy Elliott
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862cb)
Anitta, left, and Missy Elliott perform a medley at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
And then Missy came out, though sadly she didn't say any lines backwards.
GloRilla and Cardi B
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862cv)
GloRilla, left, and Cardi B perform "Tomorrow 2" at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
Cardi and Missy were both guests at Lizzo's L.A. show on Friday, which makes sense now that I see they were both ALSO in town for this. I applaud GloRilla for her thigh purses. She's like a walking emergency kit. If there is an earthquake, find her.
Latto
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862de)
Latto presents the award for favorite Afrobeats artist at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
When it says Dry Clean Only, it REALLY means it.
Dove Cameron
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862fo)
Dove Cameron performs "Boyfriend" at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
Either those are some DRAMATIC sleeves, or she is a very careless magician.
Stevie Wonder, Lionel, Smokey Robinson, Jimmie Allen
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock (13631862gw)
Stevie Wonder, from left, Icon award recipient Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Jimmie Allen perform "We Are the World" at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
2022 American Music Awards - Show, Los Angeles, United States - 20 Nov 2022
Stevie is such a joyful dude. I find it so hard to be this joyful these days. I need to learn from him.
