Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ACMA2018/FilmMagic; Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images; Larry Busacca/Getty
The 2018American Music Awardsare hours away — and everyone fromCarrie UnderwoodtoJohn StamostoCardi Bis going to be there.
Before the red carpet is unrolled, here is everything you need to know to be ready for one of music’s brightest nights.
Who’s Hosting?
Kevin Winter/Getty (3)
Theblack-ishstar, who is serving double duty as an executive producer, gushed on Instagram after the news broke, “SO NICE, I’M DOING IT TWICE.”
Who’s Performing?
Taylor Swift, who is nominated for four awards and has won 19 in the past,is making her grand return to the AMAs stagefor the first time since 2014 as the show’s opener. The“Look What You Made Me Do”singer will belt out her hit“I Did Something Bad.”
Underwood andPost MalonefeaturingTy Dolla $ignare set to perform.Jennifer Lopez,Mariah Carey, Benny Blanco withHalseyandKhalid,CiarawithMissy Elliot,Dua Lipa,Panic! at the Disco, Ella Mai, Twenty One Pilots,Camila CabelloandShawn MendeswithZeddare alsoin the lineup.
Cardi will perform at an awards show for the first time since welcoming daughterKulture Kiariwith husbandOffsetin July. Shewill take the stage with Bad Bunny and J Balvinto perform “I Like It.”
Swift announced the news that she would perform in a video alongside her cat Meredith that was first shared onGood Morning America. “Good morning America. It’s Taylor,” Swift started. “I just wanted to say I’m going to be opening up the American Music Awards with a performance. So I wanted to —”
Losing interest, Meredith started to walk away. Swift quipped, “Don’t be too excited about it, my God.”
Who’s Nominated?
Drakeand Cardi are tied for most nominations with eight each. The most-watched category of the night — artist of the year — is a race between Drake,Imagine Dragons, Malone,Ed Sheeranand Swift.
Other hotly anticipated categories include favorite new artist of the year — for which Cabello, Cardi, Khalid, Lipa andXXXTentationare nominated — and favorite tour of the year — which could go toBeyoncéandJAY-Z,Bruno Mars, Sheeran, Swift orU2.
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Swift and Sheeranfilmed their reaction to facing off against Drakein the favorite album, pop/rock category on a hike.
“Hey Taylor, the AMA nominations just came out. It’s me, you andDrake,” Sheeran said in a video. Both responded, “You’re gonna win.” They then concluded, “Drake’s gonna win.”
Swift captioned the post, “Safe to say whoever wins the AMA for fav pop/rock album will be an artist who writes songs about love and heartbreak.”
XXXTentation’s two nominations — for favorite new artist of the year and favorite album, soul/R&B — are posthumous. The rapper wasshot and killed at age 20in June as he left a motorsports dealership outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The full list of nominationscan be found here.
Who Are the Presenters?
Stars such asBusy Philipps,Constance Wu,Evan RossandAshlee Simpson,Heidi Klum, Stamos,Macaulay Culkin,Vanessa HudgensandTyra Bankswill all present awards.
Musicians likeBebe RexhaandFlorida Georgia Line,Rita Ora,The Chainsmokers,Thomas Rhett,Kelsea Ballerini,Chloe x Halle,Lenny Kravitz,Normani,Kane BrownandLauren Daiglewill be on hand to present categories as well.
The big names don’t stop there —Amandla Stenberg;Amber Heard;Taran KillamandLeighton Meester;Anthony Mackie;Billy Eichner;Kathryn Hahn; Liza Koshy;Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello and Gwilym Lee fromBohemian RhapsodyandSara Gilbertare also part of the roster of presenters.
Will There Be Tributes?
The AMAs will pay tribute toAretha Franklin,died of pancreatic cancer at age 76in August, andQueen.
Gladys Knight, who sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at Franklin’s funeral,will lead a performance in honor of Franklin. Ledisi,Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin,CeCe Winansand musical directorRickey Minorwill participate.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty
“When I heard some of the initial ideas for the tribute, I knew without a doubt that this tribute will go down as one of the best in American music,” Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece and the executor of her estate, told theAssociated Press.
According to apress release, the tribute will focus on “Franklin’s gospel roots and iconic gospel album,Amazing Grace.”
Who Decides the Winners?
You do! The AMAs are the largest fan-voted award show. Fans can votethrough the show’s websiteand on Twitter.
How Can I Watch the Red Carpet?
You can catch all the glitz and glam online before the show. The AMAswill livestream the red carpeton YouTube with hostsJessie James Decker, Scott Evans, AJ Gibson, Erika Jayne, Laura Marano and Zach Sang from 6-8 p.m. EST.
When Does the Show Start?
The fun begins live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Oct. 9 at 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC.
source: people.com
