2013 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS IN LOS ANGELES!
Rihanna Receives First Ever Icon Awards…See Full lists of Winners, Losers & Performers
*UNTOLD: Best & Worst Dress Celebrities Backstage
BY TIM CLEVER/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, LOS ANGELES
THE 2013 American Music Awards which held on Sunday night at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California, United States was full of glitz, glamour and panache where American music superstars came in their best designers’ outfit and enjoyed the paparazzi clicks on the red carpet. All eyes were on Rihanna whom mother on stage handed her American Music Icon Award in a most-emotional way that attracted a standing ovation.
The Event…
Rapper Pitbull hosted the show, which featured headlining performances by Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, One Direction, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna.
Kathy Perry opened the American Music Awards on Sunday night dressed as a geisha while belting out her latest single “Unconditionally.”
Although the stage aesthetics and colorful attire were quite beautiful, Perry was called racist for sexualizing a traditional Japanese female figure, paid to serve as a hostess and excels in the art of entertainment.
The opening act included cherry blossoms, a Shinto shrine and taiko drummers. Perry appeared on stage draped in a kimono along with several dozen dancers wearing the cultural garb. Shortly after her performance ended, though, the critics began sounding off.
Several of the performers were also named winners; Rihanna for Favorite Female Artist, Soul/R&B, One Direction for Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Pop or Rock, and Justin Timberlake for Favorite Album, Soul/R&B (The 20/20 Experience), Favorite Male Artist, Soul/R&B, and Favorite Male Pop Rock Artist.
Also of great note, Taylor Swift was chosen for Artist of the Year (in addition to two other awards). Rihanna was also given the first-ever Icon Award, which was presented to her by her mom. The red carpet also had its own winners… as well as its own losers. Here are the Best and Worst Dressed for the 2013 American Music Awards.
Rihanna’s Mother handed out award
Rihanna’s mother handing over the first ever Icon Award to the “Diamonds” singer, Justin Timberlake getting picked on by Sarah Silverman for being “a white kid from the Mickey Mouse Club,” yet winning Soul/R&B Artists of the Year and TLC reuniting to perform “Waterfalls” in the packed Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles were just a few of the highlights from Sunday night’s American Music Awards.
Let’s not forget about Miley Cyrus’s performance of “Wrecking Ball” in front of a giant video kitten crying diamonds and singing along as Miley sported a two-piece feline leotard. Taylor Swift took home the big award of the night winning Artists of the Year for the third time – a record. Here’s a full run down of the American Music Award winners for 2013:
COMPLETE WINNER’S LIST:
Favorite Male Pop Rock Artist – Justin Timberlake
Favorite Female Artist, Soul/R&B – Rihanna
Favorite Album, Country – “Red,” by Taylor Swift
Favorite Album, Rap/Hip-Hop – “The Heist,” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Favorite Artist, Alternative Rock – Imagine Dragons
Favorite Artist, Latin – Marc Anthony
Favorite Album, Pop or Rock – “Take Me Home,” by One Direction
New Artist of the Year, presented by Kohl’s – Ariana Grande
Favorite Male Artist, Soul/R&B – Justin Timberlake
Favorite Female Artist, Country – Taylor Swift
Single of the Year – “Cruise,” by Florida Georgia Line, featuring Nelly
Favorite Album, Soul/R&B – “The 20/20 Experience,” by Justin Timberlake
Favorite Artist, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) – Avicii
Favorite Artist, Adult Contemporary – Maroon 5
Favorite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational – Matthew West
Top Soundtrack – Pitch Perfect
Favorite Male Artist, Country – Luke Bryan
Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Pop or Rock – One Direction
Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Country – Lady Antebellum
Artist of the Year – Taylor Swift
If that is not enough to get you excited, Miley Cyrus — as she is known to do shut things down as the scheduled show closer. After her VMAs performance that is still getting buzzed about, the show’s finale became weird.
The following musicians performed by playing their heart out: Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line, with Pitbull hosting the event.
Best Dress Celebrities Backstage
These best dress celebrities are: Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Naya Rivera.
Jenner: You have to admit that these girls looked great. The teenage sisters both opted for sexy modern silhouettes that are still pretty age appropriate. Kendall wore a keepsake mini dress, while Kylie wore a Maiyet top and Giambatista Valli pants. Both finished their outfits with some killer pointy shoes.
Perry
While some people could end up on the Worst Dressed list with this gown, quirky Katy Perry looks amazing in this polka dotted Oscar de la Renta. The embroidered flowers are a sweet little vintage-y touch. So adorable!
Swift
T-Swift looked so glamorous in this fun metallic mini dress by Julien Macdonald. The short length and cutout on the bodice were sexy little touches, but still kept it classy. Matching strappy gold Jimmy Choos finished off the dazzling look.
Rivera
This star sure knows how to do classy cleavage. Rivera’s black Michael Kors gown is perfectly balanced with an extremely flattering fit, a revealing keyhole, and more modest long sleeves. Naya finished the look with the perfect hairstyle and some gorgeous gold statement jewelry. The train on this dresses up the glamour factor as well.
Worst Dress Celebrities
Heidi Klum
Heidi can do so much better than this! This lacy black Marchesa is gorgeous from the waist up, but that long fringed skirt is appalling. It’s like a black stringy hula skirt! I’m going to have to give her props for those fabulous Brian Atwood heels though.
Jennifer Hudson
If you thought you couldn’t go wrong with Dior, you’d be wrong. It looks like Jennifer Hudson made that mistake when selecting this bright orange and pink dress. The top half looks like a plain old t-shirt, and the skirt looks as if someone started making the dress into a mini, but didn’t finish cutting it all the way around.
Aubrey O’Day
Danity Kane’s Aubrey O’Day was overexposed, to say the least, in this bright red Ryan Jordan dress. Too much cleavage and too much leg. This almost looks like a slutty Halloween costume. Just add the devil horns and a pitchfork.
Kelly Osbourne
What would Joan Rivers say? Kelly Osbourne may be a critic on Fashion Police, but she deserves a major violation for this unflattering prom dress by Rami Al Ali. The boxy basket weave on top combined with its stiff straight tulle skirt and odd length make it one of the worst dresses of the night. Are the purple bangs helping? Not so much, Kelly. Not so much.
Lil’ Mama
Attention Lil’ Mama: Your hair does not have to match your dress. And if your dress has green accents, your hair definitely shouldn’t match. This dress on its own is bad enough, with its odd not quite peplum shape and overly large embellishment, but top it off with a green bob, and you’ve got a real mess. This outfit needs some TLC.
The Nominees
Artist of the Year nominees cut across numerous genres, including Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Swift and Timberlake. In addition to the awards and the performances, Rihanna received the Icon Award, which honors an artist whose body of work has made a huge influence in pop culture around the globe.
Take a Sneak Peak at the 2013 American Music Awards
Last but definitely not least, TLC performed and brought a special guest to join them onstage, as much highly anticipated.
Performers:
Fifth Harmony — “Better Together”
Katy Perry — “Unconditionally”
One Direction — “Story Of My Life”
Ariana Grande — “Tattooed Heart”
Imagine Dragons — “Demons”/”Radioactive”
Pitbull & Ke$ha — “Timber”
Justin Timberlake — “Drink You Away”
Rihanna — “Diamonds”
Jennifer Lopez — Celia Cruz Tribute
A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera — “Say Something”
Kendrick Lamar — “Swimming Pools (Drank)”
Lady Gaga & R. Kelly — “Do What U Want”
TLC & Lil Mama — “Waterfalls”
Miley Cyrus — “Wrecking Ball”
