Music, drama, fashion — Sunday night’s 2019 American Music Awards proved to be an exciting night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. But, hey, not everyone got to see the action unfold in real-time. Whether you were working or just forgot to save the date, you’re going to want to catch up on everything you missed while you weren’t watching the AMAs.
It goes without saying the event was a star-studded affair. Nearly all of the top names in contemporary music made the occasion, including Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Camila Cabello, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Thomas Rhett, Diplo and more. In addition to the hottest names in music, pop culture scions like Jamie Lee Curtis and Kim Kardashian were also there to see who’d take home a 2019 AMA.
And, as always, even if you did watch the live telecast of the show, there were some things not caught on camera — from priceless crowd reactions (here’s looking at you, Post Malone) to red carpet comments, some of the best moments of the night weren’t part of the programming. So, in celebration of the night’s festivities, here are all of the best moments of the 2019 AMAs.
Lizzo’s Ballad
Full performance, just to be fairhttps://t.co/11cr7ZTRrf
— Rachel R. 💜 (@RaduenzRaquel) November 25, 2019
Um, can we talk about Lizzo lighting up the stage with her new single “Jerome”? While fans are used to her high-energy performances of up-tempo tracks like “Truth Hurts” and “Good As Hell,” she slowed it way down for this heartfelt performance. Our lady crush level for Lizzo now? Insatiable.
Shania Twain’s Performance
Almost 20 years since the last time she took the AMAs stage, country superstar Shania Twain crushed her return with acoustic covers of some of the night’s biggest stars/hits: Post Malone’s “Rockstar,” Twenty One Pilots’ “Stressed Out,” Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and Drake’s “God’s Plan.” And if that wasn’t enough, she launched into a medley of her own greatest hits like “Any Man of Mine” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”
Post Malone’s Response to Shania Twain’s Performance
Post Malone is having a good time! #AMAs#ShaniaTwainpic.twitter.com/8arIddYkte
— The Voice Inside Me (@TheVoiceInside6) November 25, 2019
Best rap album winner Post Malone had a killer performance of his own alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Travis Scott and Watt. But his real shining moment came in the form of the rapper Taylor Swifting in the front row during Twain’s country hits medley. ICYMI, “Taylor Swifting” is our very technical term for being the most enthusiastic dancer in the audience
Kesha’s Comeback
KESHA DID NOT JUST PERFORM TIK TOK. FUCKING ICONIC #AMAs2019pic.twitter.com/c8P26Xltzm
— . (@thatislesther) November 25, 2019
To be clear, it was already exciting for fans to see Kesha take the stage with Big Freedia for an epic performance of “Raising Hell.” But when she sang the familiar phrase “Wake up in the morning feelin’ like P. Diddy,” the crowd went wild knowing her 2009 super-hit “TiK ToK” was forthcoming. After this, we’re tempted to make lapel pins that say “Make America Kesha Again.”
Carrie Underwood’s Emotional Wins
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After last week’s 2019 CMA Awards, fans were up in arms over the act that Garth Brooks took home Entertainer of the Year over Carrie Underwood. She was the only woman nominated (on a night dedicated to women in country music, no less) and had come off of her wildly successful Cry Pretty 360 Tour.
Naturally then, Underwood was emotional when she won two AMAs trophies: favorite country album for Cry Pretty and Favorite Female Artist. Taking to Instagram afterward, she gushed, “Tonight was a dream! Thank you, fans, for voting… and for the love and support that you CONSTANTLY give!”
Toni Braxton’s Return to the AMAs Stage
In honor of Toni Braxton returning to the #AMAs tonight to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her winning her first AMA… pic.twitter.com/In7XKwwhHg
— 𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖎𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖘𝖟𝖓 𝕿𝖗𝖆𝖛𝖎𝖘. (@tdnewyork97) November 25, 2019
After 25 years, Toni Braxton triumphantly took the AMAs stage once more — and the Grammy-winning singer did not disappoint. Fittingly, she brought down the house with a performance of her hit 1996 song “Un-break My Heart,” for which she won multiple awards in 1997.
Taylor Swift AMAs Message
congrats my queen, u deserved all. We love you❤❤#TaylorSwiftpic.twitter.com/lraSgzfl3V
— itsjillianeeeee16 (@jilliane161) November 25, 2019
You had to know this was coming, right? Hot on the heels of a controversial week involving her ongoing feud with Scooter Braun and Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta, Swift had a huge night at the AMAs. In the process of winning the most awards of the night, she broke Michael Jackson’s previous record for most AMAs held. Plus, she received the Artist of the Decade Award.
So, everyone understandably couldn’t wait to hear her speeches to see if she would perhaps send a message to Braun and Borchetta. And since our girl Tay loves a good veiled reference, we’re inclined to say she did. Accepting the best pop/rock album for “Lover,” she said, “This album felt like a new beginning. And I also really love my record label, Universal and Republic. Monte Lipman, Lucien Grainge, thank you for being so generous to me and allowing me to make whatever music I want to make.” Oh, we heard that.
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