Kelly Rowland doesn’t tend to be a very divisive or controversial figure in pop music. But position of having to accept the Favorite Male R&B Artist trophy on behalf of the absent Chris Brown at Sunday’s American Music Awards ceremony
Brown was not only expected to attend Sunday’s AMAs, but also perform a tribute to another divisive and controversial artist, the late Michael Jackson, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Jackson’s landmark Thriller album.
So, Brown was a no-show at Sunday’s AMAs, presumably in protest, leaving presenter Rowland to accept his award. When audience members began booing after she announced that Brown had won Favorite Male R&B Artist over Brent Faiyaz, GIVĒON, Lucky Daye, and the Weeknd, she seemed taken aback and even annoyed by the strong reaction.
Among the highlights of the 2022 American Music Awards ceremony, held Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The ceremony climaxed with Lionel Richie being presented with the lifetime-achievement Icon Award by Smokey Robinson, after which Stevie Wonder and Charlie Puth performed a Richie medley and were joined by Ari Lennox, Muni Long, Melissa Etheridge, Jimmie Allen, Yola, Robinson, and Richie himself for a sentimental performance of “We Are the World,” which Richie wrote in 1985 with the above-mentioned Jackson.
The night’s big winner was Taylor Swift, who swept all six of her categories, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year — thus breaking her own AMAs record and bringing her total wins tally to 40.
