The 2020 American Music Awards took place over the weekend with Taraji P. Henson taking over the hosting reins for the night. The award show found a way to make it work for this year’s edition with a small group being allowed in to watch a diverse set of artists play live.
After watching the show, I’ve rounded up my favorite artists that played the 2020 American Music Awards. Check out the dopest performances of the night below.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish exuded the kind of confidence that gets you all sorts of hype when she performed her latest single “Therefore I Am.” For the live debut of the track, Billie was accompanied by her brother FINNEAS, and while the set was kept simple with all the red light and some corridors, that was more than enough to make it still feel dope.
Dua Lipa
The stand-out Pop artist of 2020 is undoubtedly Dua Lipa, and for her performance she went all out. The British singer’s rendition of “Levitating” was broadcast all the way from London, taking the stage doing a flirty choreography with the help of a team of dancers. The climax came with Dua Lipa levitating with the help of some wires and glitter falling from the ceiling, making for a shiny finale.
Jennifer Lopez x Maluma
The easiest thing to do to describe this performance would be to use words like “caliente” and “spicy,” and… that’s wtf I’m gon’ do. It is undeniable that J. Lo’s inclusion in any event like this would involve some real sensual energy, and that was definitely the case when she connected with Colombian star Maluma for “Pa’ Ti” & “Lonely.” You know it’s all part of the show, but there were moments that got you thinking, “are these two f…….?” Also, J. Lo is still that woman and shout out to Latin representation!
Lil Baby
The Atlanta rapper was one of the few representatives for the genre on the night, but he made sure to make his presence count. Lil Baby performed “Emotionally Scarred” backed by a masked live band, interpretive dancer, and an actress playing a therapist reacting to the rapper’s introspective lyrics. The performance closed with the words “Protect Your Mental Health” on the screens behind them, a little note to remind us all of something that’s ignored way too often.
Megan Thee Stallion
Just a few days ago, Megan Thee Stallion dropped one of the hottest singles of the last quarter of 2020 with “Body,” and this live performance came just in time to further build on its popularity. It kicked off with a message from Megan highlighting her love for her body and what this means to her. Soon after, it was all about that captivating choreography from its music video, which demonstrating Megan’s moves are breathtaking. This woman has earned her spot among the best of the year and this appearance was a great way to further celebrate her.
The Weeknd
The Canadian singer continued to portray the beat-up character in the red jacket and leather gloves as he sang After Hours tracks “In Your Eyes” (with a little help from Kenny G) and “Save Your Tears.” The performance took place on an empty bridge with fireworks lighting up the way, which really made this feel like a big deal. Gotta love that showmanship here, which makes you wonder what he’s got in the store for that halftime show next year…
