Kevin Winter, Getty Images
As for the winners, going into the night Rihanna and Nicki Minaj led the nominees with four nods each. But, did they manage to come out on top with artists like Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher right behind them with multiple nominations?
Check out the complete winners list below to find out who owned the night and who came up short at the 2012 AMAs!
One of the biggest surprises of the night was a special guest Justin brought on stage to help accept one of three three awards he won. It wasn't on-and-off again GF Selena Gomez, but instead his mom, Pattie Mallette! Joining him on stage as he was honored with Artist of the Year, Justin said, "This is my mom. She's little, but she's beautiful...it's hard growing up with everything going on, with everyone watching me. I wanna always make you proud." Aww, too sweet!
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber -- WINNER
Drake
Maroon 5
Katy Perry
Rihanna
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
J. Cole
fun.
Gotye
Carly Rae Jepsen -- WINNER
One Direction
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST -- POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber -- WINNER
Flo Rida
Pitbull
Usher
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST -- POP/ROCK
Kelly Clarkson
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry -- WINNER
Rihanna
FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP -- POP/ROCK
fun.
Maroon 5 -- WINNER
One Direction
The Wanted
FAVORITE ALBUM -- POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber, Believe -- WINNER
Maroon 5, Overexposed
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
One Direction, Up All Night
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST -- COUNTRY
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan -- WINNER
Eric Church
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST -- COUNTRY
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift -- WINNER
Carrie Underwood
FAVORITE BAND, DUO or GROUP -- COUNTRY
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum -- WINNER
Rascal Flatts
FAVORITE ALBUM -- COUNTRY
Luke Bryan, Tailgates & Tanlines
Lionel Richie, Tuskegee
Carrie Underwood, Blown Away -- WINNER
FAVORITE ARTIST -- RAP/HIP-HOP
Drake
Nicki Minaj -- WINNER
Tyga
FAVORITE ALBUM -- RAP/HIP-HOP
J. Cole, Cole World: The Sideline Story
Drake, Take Care
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded -- WINNER
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST -- SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Usher -- WINNER
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST -- SOUL/R&B
Beyonce -- WINNER
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
FAVORITE ALBUM -- SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown, Fortune
Rihanna, Talk That Talk -- WINNER
Usher, Looking 4 Myself
FAVORITE ARTIST -- ALTERNATIVE ROCK
The Black Keys
Gotye
Linkin Park -- WINNER
FAVORITE ARTIST -- ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Adele -- WINNER
Kelly Clarkson
Train
FAVORITE ARTIST -- LATIN
Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira -- WINNER
FAVORITE ARTIST -- CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Jeremy Camp
Newsboys
tobyMac -- WINNER
FAVORITE ARTIST -- ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
David Guetta -- WINNER
Calvin Harris
Skrillex
See All the Fashion From the AMAs 2012 Red Carpet
- Pink
- Taylor Swift
- Christina Aguilera
- Nicki Minaj
- Carly Rae Jepsen
- Carrie Underwood
- Gwen Stefani
- Kesha
- Colbie Caillat
- Jenny McCarthy
- Mayra Veronica
- Jordin Sparks
- Heidi Klum
- Kelly Rowland
- Cyndi Lauper
- Gloria Estefan
- Bleona
- Lucy Hale
- Stacy Keibler
- Justin Bieber
- J. Cole
- Chris Brown
- The Wanted
- Phillip Phillips and Hannah Blackwell
- 50 Cent aka Curtis Jackson
- Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park
- will.i.am
- Psy
- Lance Bass
- Tyga
- Gavin DeGraw
- Recent Celebrity Makeovers: Stars' Best Style Switch-Ups
- Miley Cyrus
- Rihanna
- Demi Lovato
- Alicia Keys
- Adam Lambert
- Kesha
- Taylor Swift
- Adam Levine
- Lady Gaga
- Matisyahu
- Awkward Award Show Moments
- Most Awkward Behind-the-Bro Hug
- Best Slink Down the Red Carpet
- Most Cringe-Worthy Embrace
- Best 'Someone Please Save Me' Face
- Most Lopsided Hug
- Best 'Why Am I Posing With These People?' Face
- Best 'We Don't Really Want to Kiss Each Other' Kiss
- Most Uncomfortable-Looking Conversation
- Most Sketchy Side-Eye Hug
- Best 'If Looks Could Kill' Face
- Most Unfortunate Dance Moves
- Most Unnerving Dress
- Best 'Get That Camera Out of My Face' Face
- Most Awkward Head to Bosom Ratio
- Most Well-Placed Priorites
- Best Model Leer
- Most Uncomfortable Body Language
- Best Kiss Miss
- Best Audience Push Down
- Best Disapproving Photo Bomb
- Best Muppet Smackdown
- Can You Believe They're the Same Age?
- Lindsay Lohan and Dianna Agron
- Adele and Hayley Williams
- Florence Welch and Lea Michele
- Lady Gaga and Mary-Kate Olsen
- Fantasia Barrino and Avril Lavigne
- Miranda Cosgrove and Taylor Momsen
- T-Pain and Carly Rae Jepsen
Watch "Biggest Names in Music Nominated for American Music Awards"
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