By: Jacob Elyachar
One of my favorite music specials that I look forward to watch every year is the American Music Awards.
Tonight, multiple artists including P!nk, Christina Aguilera, Pitbull, Carrie Underwood, Stevie Wonder and Usher will take the Nokia Theatre’s stage to perform some of their latest hits.
Also, this ceremony marks a huge milestone for the show’s history as the AMAs celebrates its ruby anniversary.
This author has complied a list of several of the show’s most important moments from Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond’s team-up to Whitney Houston’s comeback performance.
Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond pose backstage at the first American Music Awards before they awarded the best Soul and Pop groups. (Photo property of Dick Clark Productions and ABC)
Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond’s team-up (1973)
During the first American Music Awards, two of the 1970s biggest teenage heartthrobs lit up the stage as they presented multiple categories including Favorite Soul Group and Favorite Pop Group.
Prince dominates AMAs (1985)
Despite a comeback by Tina Turner, the Purple One dominated the awards ceremony as he won three awards including the now defunct Favorite Black Album and Favorite Black Single plus Best Pop Album.
To see Madonna and the Beach Boys present Prince with two awards, click here: http://youtu.be/1KZOGPkbNCc
We Are The World sing along (1986)
1986 AMA host Diana Ross brought several huge names up onstage to perform the final song of the evening: “We Are The World.” The line-up including Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Elizabeth Taylor, Harry Belafonte and many of the night’s performers on the show’s stage while others including Aretha Franklin joined the show via satellite.
Gloria Estefan received a standing ovation from the 1991 American Music Awards audience before she performed her powerful hit: “Coming Out of the Dark.” (Photo property of Dick Clark Productions and ABC)
Gloria Estefan makes her comeback (1991)
The Queen of Latin Pop made her triumphant return to the American Music Awards after her tragic tour bus accident in March 1990. Her performance of “Coming Out of the Dark” remains one of the most powerful moments in the show’s 40-year-history.
To watch this impeccable performance, click here: http://youtu.be/NwO5tjm3pSU
Whitney Houston becomes AMA’s Queen of the Night (1994)
The Bodyguard singer/actress went 6-1 as she cleaned up at the 1994 American Music Awards ceremony as she received Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist as well as an Award of Merit. Whitney also performed her signature song: “I Will Always Love You” near the end of the night.
Britney’s edgy Stronger performance (2001)
With the help of Michael Jackson’s former touring guitarist, Jennifer Batten, and dozens of hot female dancers, the Oops! I Did It Again singer and the American Music Awards co-host delivers a superb performance of “Stronger” that shed her innocent schoolgirl image and began a journey that remade her into one of the sexiest music performers of the 2000s.
To watch Britney’s performance, click here: http://youtu.be/gijFdpdxZRk
Whitney Houston made her comeback as she performed “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” at the 2009 American Music Awards. Unfortunately, this was her last appearance on the show as she passed away earlier this year. (Photo property of Getty Images)
Whitney returns to the AMAs in style (2009)
15 years after her huge victory at the 1994 AMAs, the R&B Diva returned to the award show with redemption on her mind as she performed the Diane Warren-penned bio-track “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” that became the best performance of the night.
will.i.am debuted his new single: “T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)” on last year’s American Music Awards that featured Jennifer Lopez, Fighting Gravity and a video cameo by Sir Mick Jagger. (Photo property of Dick Clark Productions and ABC)
Will.i.am debuts “T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)” (2011)
Last year, will.i.am teamed up with former American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez and AGT alums Fighting Gravity to deliver a showstopping performance that featured incredible stunts by Fighting Gravity, sexy vocals from Lopez, smooth raps from the rapper and a video cameo by Sir Mick Jagger.
You can watch this performance, by clicking here: http://youtu.be/-3AnswMwWV8
For more information about the American Music Awards, visit the show’s website: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards
