The pop star was not expected to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles and so her arrival on the red carpet was a shock to many, marking her first public appearance since she abandoned her world tour this summer (16) and reportedly checked into rehab to focus on her struggle with autoimmune disorder lupus.
Wearing a stunning red gown and looking tanned, happy and healthy, the Come & Get It singer hit the stage during the prizegiving to collect the award and held back tears as she addressed her fans.
As the Microsoft Theatre audience fell silent, Selena said, “In 2014 this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically, 100 per cent honest with all of you. I think it’s safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life, whether I like it or not.”
Gomez cut short a 2014 tour of Australia and checked in to the Dawn at The Meadows facility in Arizona to receive professional care and undergo chemotherapy. In August (16) she announced she was taking an indefinite break from her world tour in order to focus on getting well again.
“I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside,” she added during her speech. “I kept it all together enough to where I’d never let you (fans) down, but I kept it too much together, to where I let myself down.
“All I can say from the bottom of my heart is I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be able to share what I love every single day with people that I love… If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.”
Meanwhile, Selena’s ex Justin Bieber, fellow Canadian Drake, Rihanna, and Ariana Grande were among the biggest winners of the night.
The rapper, who came into the 2016 AMAs with a record-breaking 13 nominations, picked up three honours and shared a fourth with rumoured ex-girlfriend Rihanna, who also claimed a triple win, including an unexpected Soul/R&B Album of Year trophy for Anti, beating out Beyonce’s Lemonade.
Meanwhile, Bieber picked up the most awards of the night landing four of his five nominations, and Grande was crowned Artist of the Year.
She and Bieber were also among the night’s performance highlights alongside sets from Merit Award recipient Sting, Green Day, double winners Twenty One Pilots, The Weeknd, Fifth Harmony, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Niall Horan, and Maroon 5 and Kendrick Lamar, who closed the show with Don’t Wanna Know.
The full list of winners is:
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
New Artist of the Year
Zayn Malik
Collaboration of the Year
Work From Home – Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign
Pop/Rock Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Pop/Rock Female Artist
Selena Gomez
Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
Twenty One Pilots
Pop/Rock Album
Purpose – Justin Bieber
Pop/Rock Song
Love Yourself – Justin Bieber
Soul/R&B Male Artist
Chris Brown
Soul/R&B Female Artist
Rihanna
Soul/R&B Song
Work – Rihanna and Drake
Soul/R&B Album
Anti – Rihanna
Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Drake
Rap/Hip-Hop Song
Hotline Bling – Drake
Rap/Hip-Hop Album
Views – Drake
Electronic Dance Music Artist
The Chainsmokers
Alternative Rock Artist
Twenty One Pilots
Country Male Artist
Blake Shelton
Country Female Artist
Carrie Underwood
Country Duo or Group
Florida Georgia Line
Country Album
Storyteller – Carrie Underwood
Country Song
Humble & Kind – Tim MCGraw
Adult Contemporary Artist
Adele
Latin Artist
Enrique Iglesias
Contemporary Inspirational Artist
Hillsong UNITED
Top Soundtrack
Purple Rain
Video of the Year
Sorry – Justin Bieber
Tour of the Year
Beyonce
American Music Award of Merit
Sting
