Bieber became the youngest person to ever win the trophy. Bieber also won favorite pop/rock album, favorite pop/rock male, and the show's breakthrough artist award.
Bieber shared the spotlight with his "mentor, best friend and big brother" Usher saying, "I really was embraced by a man named Usher Raymond, it would be only right if I invited him up here to share it with me."
American Music Award winners
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
POP/ROCK
SOUL/R&B
COUNTRY
RAP/HIP-HOP
SOUNDTRACKS
ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
LATIN MUSIC
CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
- Justin Bieber
POP/ROCK
- Favorite male - Justin Bieber
- Favorite female - Lady Gaga
- Favorite band - The Black Eyed Peas
- Favorite album - "My World 2.0" (Justin Bieber)
SOUL/R&B
- Favorite male - Usher
- Favorite female - Rihanna
- Favorite album - "Raymond v. Raymond" (Usher)
COUNTRY
- Favorite male - Brad Paisley
- Favorite female - Taylor Swift
- Favorite band - Lady Antebellum
- Favorite album - "Play On" (Carrie Underwood)
RAP/HIP-HOP
- Favorite male - Eminem
- Favorite album - "Recovery" (Eminem)
SOUNDTRACKS
- Favorite album - "Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers"
ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
- Favorite artist - Muse
ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
- Favorite artist - Michael Buble
LATIN MUSIC
- Favorite artist - Shakira
CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
- Favorite artist - MercyMe
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
- Justin Bieber