Americian Music Awards: Inside The Show

Nicki Minaj encouraged her feverish fans to “find their voice” when accepting an honor at the fan-voted American Music Awards on Sunday night.

The rapper won favorite album – rap/hip-hop for “The Pinkprint,” beating out Drake and J. Cole.

“I want to just thank you, the fans, for allowing me to change and have a different voice every time I come back out (with a new album),” Minaj said at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “And please find your voice and find your purpose before it’s too late. Love you.”

Carrie Underwood attends the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 22, 2015 in Los Angeles
(Getty Images)

Minaj is up for the night’s top award, artist of the year, against Luke Bryan, Ariana Grande, One Direction and Taylor Swift, who didn’t attend the awards show because she’s out of the country shooting a music video.

One Direction, who performed “Perfect,” won favorite duo or group – pop/rock.

PHOTOS: Nicki Minaj: Her Wild Style 

“Wow. To say that we have won this award for three years on a bounce is a pretty incredible thing to be able to say. It’s as simple as this: we won’t be able to do this without our fans,” Niall Horan said.

Thought 1D earned loud applause, the night was about girl power. Zendaya and Hailee Steinfeld danced excited as Selena Gomez performed onstage; Fifth Harmony and Rebel Wilson sang as Demi Lovato was in strong form with “Confident”; and Gomez sang as Grande performed “Focus” in a shimmery number.

The performance that got the most attention, though, was Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth’s. The singers made out onstage after singing their song, “Marvin Gaye,” which features the lyrics: “Let’s Marvin Gaye and get it on.”

“I’m still laughing at Charlie and Meghan smooching,” Bryan said onstage after winning favorite male artist – country.

PHOTOS: The Boys Of One Direction

Bryan beat out Jason Aldean and Sam Hunt, who won new artist of the year.

Host Jennifer Lopez kicked off the American Music Awards in
a dance routine that highlighted some of the year’s biggest hits, including
songs from Justin Bieber and Nicki MInaj – who sat in the audience.

Lopez danced to songs like “Where Are U Now,”
”Anaconda,” ”Uptown Funk!” and “Hotline Bling” at the
Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday and impressively sang in almost a
cappella form.

The night will also feature other A-list performances:
Carrie Underwood, Coldplay, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani and Luke
Bryan will hit the stage.

Prince, who earned a rousing applause, presented the first
award of the night to the Weeknd for favorite album – soul/R&B for
“Beauty Behind the Madness.”

“Make some noise for Prince, ladies and
gentlemen,” said the singer, who will perform later in the show.

Bieber, who also is set to perform, already has room to
celebrate: Billboard announced Sunday his new album, “Purpose,” will
debut at No. 1 on its charts Monday after selling 649,000 equivalent albums. It
beat out One Direction’s “Made In the A.M.,” which sold 459,000
equivalent albums.

One Direction, who will also hit the stage, is nominated
for artist of the year, pitting the group against Grande, Bryan, Minaj and
Taylor Swift.

PHOTOS: Taylor Swift’s Stage Style Evolution

Swift has had the most successful year of the bunch, thanks to her top-selling album “1989” and hits like “Bad Blood” and “Black Space.” She is the leading nominee with six including song and collaboration of the year for “Bad Blood” with Kendrick Lamar, favorite female artist – pop/rock, favorite album – pop/rock for “1989” and favorite artist – adult contemporary.

Behind Swift with five nominations are Sheeran and the Weeknd, who had a breakout year with the No. 1 hits “The Hills” and “Can’t Feel My Face.” The latter is competing for song of the year against Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,” Swift’s “Bad Blood,” ”See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, and Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk!”

The night will take an emotional turn when Celine Dion
honors the victims of the recent attacks in Paris when she sings Edith Piaf’s
“Hymne à L’Amour” in French.

Other performers Sunday include 5 Seconds of Summer, Nick
Jonas, Demi Lovato, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Walk the Moon, Meghan Trainor
and Puth.

Minaj, Trainor, Sam Smith, Sam Hunt and Walk the Moon are
nominated for three awards apiece.

The fan-voted show is airing on ABC.

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