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Cardi B held down her hosting duties for the very first time at the 2021 American Music Awards last night (November 21st).

The Bronx rapper was welcomed on the stage at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater with shooting flames as she strutted wearing a black gown with a bedazzled neck and high split, her hair styled in a mullet while wearing full-length feathers on her back. And of course, she kicked things off by asking the crowd “What’s Poppin’?”

As for the big winners of the night, BTS took home three awards: Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Duo or Group and Favorite Pop Song for their hit “Butter.”

Olivia Rodrigo walked away with Best New Artist and the hostest with the mostest, Cardi B, won Favorite Hip-Hop Song for “Up.”

Twenty-two of the awards weren’t televised, including Drake‘s win for Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist and Megan Thee Stallion winning Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist.

HIGHLIGHTS

Before Cardi B welcomed JoJo Siwa to the stage to present an award, Cardi shared that her husband, Offset, tried to reach out to JoJo to meet their daughter Kulture. However, JoJo was “booked and busy,” Cardi joked. Once on the stage to present, JoJo promised to meet Kulture and joked that she accepts Bitcoin payment. She then said that a vote for her on Dancing With the Stars can be in place of the Bitcoin payment.

Cardi also had multiple outfit changes.

Becky G showed major support for the LatinX community as well as minorities during her speech for her win for Favorite Female Latin Artist.

Machine Gun Kelly decided against reading the telepromter when presenting the award for Best New Artist.

During BTS’ speech for their win for Artist of the Year, they said, “Seven boys from Korea united by a love for music…This whole thing is a miracle.”

PERFORMANCES

BTS joined Coldplay to perform the rock band’s track, “My Universe.”

Olivia Rodrigo delievered a mellow and initially acoustic peformance of “Traitor.” She was later supported by a full-on band.

Tyler, The Creator hit the AMAs stage for the first time with a Winter Wonderland-themed set and performed “Massa.”

Jason Aldine and Carrie Underwood appeared on the award show’s “My Hometown” segment and later performed their duet, “If I Didn’t Love You.”

Bad Bunny, Julieta Venegas and Tainy performed “Lo Siento BB:/.”

Italian rock band Maneskin did their record, “Beggin’.”

R&B singer Chloe made her AMAs debut as well with a performance of her hit “Have Mercy,” featuring stepper-like choreographer.

Jennifer Lopez performed “On My Way (Marry Me)” from the soundtrack of her upcoming film, Marry Me.

Country music artist Mickey Guyton performed her new single “All American.”

R&B singer Giveon gave a sultry performance of his song, “Heartbreak Anniversary.”

Country star Kane Brown performed “One Mississippi” live from Tennessee State University.

New Kids on the Block took it back to the 1980s and performed a medley of hits including “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” “Step by Step” and “Hangin’ Tough.” New Edition, whom NKOTB will be touring with next year, also performed “Candy Girl,” “Mr. Telephone Man,” “Can You Stand the Rain” and “If It Isn’t Love.” Together, the groups performed “Is This the End.”

Walker Hayes performed “Fancy Like” featuring the viral dance inspired by his daughter.

Zoe Wees performed “Girls Like Us.”

BTS hit the stage a second time to close out the show with “Butter.”

WINNERS

Artist of the Year: BTS
New Artist of the Year: Olivia Rodrigo
Collaboration of the Year: Doja Cat featuring SZA “Kiss Me More”
Favorite Trending Song: Megan Thee Stallion “Body”
Favorite Music Video: Lil Nas X “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
Favorite Male Pop Artist: Ed Sheeran
Favorite Female Pop Artist: Taylor Swift
Favorite Pop Duo or Group: BTS
Favorite Pop Album: Taylor Swift, Evermore
Favorite Pop Song: BTS “Butter”
Favorite Male Country Artist: Luke Bryan
Favorite Female Country Artist: Carrie Underwood
Favorite Country Duo or Group: Dan + Shay
Favorite Country Album: Gabby Barrett, Goldmine
Favorite Country Song: Gabby Barrett “The Good Ones”
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist: Drake
Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist: Megan Thee Stallion
Favorite Hip-Hop Album: Megan Thee Stallion, Good News
Favorite Hip-Hop Song: Cardi B “Up”
Favorite Male R&B Artist: The Weeknd
Favorite Female R&B Artist: Doja Cat
Favorite R&B Album: Doja Cat, Planet Her
Favorite R&B Song: Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) “Leave The Door Open”
Favorite Male Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
Favorite Female Latin Artist: Becky G
Favorite Latin Duo or Group: Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Favorite Latin Album: Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo
Favorite Latin Song: Kali Uchis “Telepatía”
Favorite Rock Artist: Machine Gun Kelly
Favorite Inspirational Artist: Carrie Underwood
Favorite Gospel Artist: Kanye West
Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist: Marshmello

BROADCAST AUDIO