From Mariah To J.Lo: All The Performances From The 2018 AMAs

Tonight is the night of the 2018 American Music Awards, and it was an amazing night for live music. Many of the biggest stars are descending on Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, and they are sure to light up the stage with electrifying performances. Taylor Swift opened the show with a wild rendition of “I Did Something Bad.” She and a crew of dancers worked through a high impact routine, and her snake set piece from The Reputation Tour made an appearance. It looks like a new single off Reputation is on the way, and it is shaping up to be a bop. Twenty One Pilots followed her up with a fiery performance of “Jumpsuit.” After dropping their new album Trench last Friday, they are sure to have left a lasting impression.

Splendidly pretty in pink, pop legend Mariah Carey kept things simple but striking for her visually stunning rendition of “With You.” Her vocals were as strong as ever, and she left the stage to roaring applause. Shawn Mendes and Zedd kept the energy growing with their first televised performance of the “Lost In Japan” remix. Performing under some cool lighting, they shared a predictably strong moment. Breakout star Ella Mai followed them and kept things going with a soulful take on “Boo’d Up”.

After collecting the first AMA of the night, Cardi B returned to play her chart-topping “I Like It” alongside Bad Bunny and J Balvin. Transforming the stage into a tropical paradise complete with pyrotechnics and a massive crew of dancers, the trio hosted what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest parties of the night. Benny Blanco, Khalid and Halsey put the stage through another transformation for their performance of “Eastside.” The stars showed off their evocative vocals and perfect chemistry on the catchy track.

Post Malone was joined by Ty Dolla $ign for a medley of “Psycho” and “Better Now.” Opting to keep the staging more simple, the pair focused on their slick flow during the former. However, some bold explosions and green lighting added tension to the latter. Club queen Dua Lipa electrified the night with a medley of her Calvin Harris duet “One Kiss” and Silk City collaboration “Electricity.” Executing some tight choreography, the neon-drenched set ended with an onstage rainstorm.

Jennifer Lopez kept the storm going with the live debut of her new single, “Limitless.” Dressed in a dazzling suit, she belted out her stunning track while lightning flashed in the background. The only thing that could have made it more incredible is if presenter Vanessa Hudgens had joined her for a duet. It is shaping up to be a night of firsts. Camila Cabello played “Consequences” for the first time after releasing an orchestral version of it earlier today. The “Havana” siren changed into a black and white gown and brought the striking lyrics to life with one of her most earnest vocal lines to date.

Ciara nabbed a serious hit with “Level Up” earlier this year, and her performance of the banger tonight is another massive win. Joined by Missy Elliott, the diva slayed an intricately choreographed set. Making things even better was CiCi’s decision to incorporate elements of her female empowerment anthem “Dose.” Favorite Female Country Artist Carrie Underwood showed off her vocals during an emotional rendition of “Spinning Bottles.” Surrounded by candles, the pregnant hitmaker graced the evening with a somber moment of reflection.

Capping off the night was a pair of tributes. Panic! At The Disco honored Queen with a rocking take on “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Meanwhile, the evening closed out with a tribute to the late Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin courtesy of Gladys Knight, Donnie McClurkins, CeCe Winans, Ledisi and Mary Mary. The group’s larger-than-life vocals set the scene for a lush and worthy tribute to one of music’s greats.

We’ll be updating the post with videos from the night as they roll in below. In the meantime acquaint yourself with the list of winners here and keep an eye peeled for a gallery of looks from the red carpet here!

Who are you most excited to see perform? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!