The 2010 American Music Awards honored the top musical artists and albums from the preceding year. The American Music Awards winners were named during a live ceremony taking place on Sunday, November 21, 2010, starting at 8:00 p.m. EST. The event was held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California, and aired on ABC.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/about-the-show

Awards were given to a variety of top artists in several categories separated by musical genre. The 2010 AMA nominees in general award categories along with nominees in the pop/rock, country, rap/hip hop, soul/R&B, alternative, Latin, soundtracks, adult contemporary and inspirational categories were announced on October 12, 2010.http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2010-american-music-awards-nominees-announced-104786289.html In addition to the presentation of awards, the American Music Awards included a selection of performances from top artists.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/performers

As announced by Demi Lovato and Taio Cruz, the nominees for each of the 20 awards categories were named just over a month before the 2010 American Music Awards. Among the nominees were Eminem and Lady Antebellum, who each received five nominations to lead all others in 2010. Other top nominees included Justin Bieber, with four nominations, B.o.B., Katy Perry, Ke$ha and Usher, with each receiving three nominations. Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Eminem were each nominated for the Artist of the Year award as well, which Bieber took home.http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2010-american-music-awards-nominees-announced-104786289.html

To open the 2010 American Music Awards, singer Rihanna performed. Rolling Stone magazine speculated that Rihanna may debut a new song in the performance as the 2010 American Music Awards came just days after the November 16, 2010, release of her album Loud.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/231193 Rihanna was be joined by a variety of other artists at the event, including two boy bands performing together for the first time, the New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys. The two groups also announced a tour together which is scheduled to begin in 2011.http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/11/backstreet-boys-sets-for-american-music-awards.html

Other performers for the 2010 American Music Awards included Kid Rock, Katy Perry, Diddy and Dirty Money, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha, Bon Jovi, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Usher and many others.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/performers

• Artist of the Year
  • Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Ke$ha
  • Katy Perry
  • Lady Gaga
  • Eminem

• Breakthrough Artist Award
  • B.o.B
  • Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Taio Cruz
  • Jason Derulo
  • Ke$ha
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Travie McCoy
  • Mike Posner

Pop/Rock

• Favorite Male Artist
  • Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Eminem
  • Usher

Favorite Female Artist

• Ke$ha
• Lady Gaga -- WINNER
• Katy Perry

• Favorite Band, Duo or Group
  • Black Eyed Peas -- WINNER
  • Train
  • Lady Antebellum

• Favorite Album
  • My World 2.0 by Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Recovery by Eminem
  • Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

Country

• Favorite Male Artist
  • Jason Aldean
  • Luke Bryan
  • Brad Paisley -- WINNER

• Favorite Female Artist
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Taylor Swift -- WINNER
  • Carrie Underwood

• Favorite Band, Duo or Group
  • Rascal Flatts
  • Lady Antebellum -- WINNER
  • Zac Brown Band

• Favorite Album
  • Wide Open by Jason Aldean
  • Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
  • Play On by Carrie Underwood -- WINNER

Rap/Hip Hop

• Favorite Male Artist
  • B.o.B
  • Eminem -- WINNER
  • Drake

• Favorite Album
  • B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray by B.o.B
  • Thank Me Later by Drake
  • Recovery by Eminem -- WINNER

Soul/R&B

• Favorite Male Artist
  • Chris Brown
  • Trey Songz
  • Usher -- WINNER

• Favorite Female Artist
  • Sade
  • Alicia Keys
  • Rihanna -- WINNER

• Favorite Album
  • The Element of Freedom by Alicia Keys
  • Soldier of Love by Sade
  • Raymond v. Raymond by Usher -- WINNER

Soundtracks

• Favorite Soundtrack
  • Iron Man 2 by AC/DC
  • Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers by Glee cast -- WINNER
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse by Various artists

Alternative

• Favorite Artist
  • Muse -- WINNER
  • Phoenix
  • Vampire Weekend

Adult

• Favorite Artist
  • Michael Buble -- WINNER
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Train

Latin

• Favorite Artist
  • Daddy Yankee
  • Enrique Iglesias
  • Shakira -- WINNER

Inspirational

• Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
  • Casting Crowns
  • MercyMe -- WINNER
  • TobyMachttp://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/nominees