2011 American Music Awards Live Blog

7:00 PM/ET

Here we go!  2011 American Music Award red carpet time.  It's been raining in L.A., but it doesn't look like it's going to dampen the hot looks.  Presenter Jenny McCarthy is sporting a very classy purple dress.  I'm excited to see if Katy Perry still has pink hair.

7:13 PM/ET

David Guetta is being interviewed on the red carpet.  I hardly ever get to see him when he's not wearing headphones and fist pumping.  I love his accent. 

7:16 PM/ET

New Artist of the Year nominee Hot Chelle Rae is singing "I Like It Like That."  I kinda like it... but I like nominee The Band Perry more...

7:25 PM/ET

It's Nickelback.  Stop interviewing this band and show us what everyone is wearing!

7:31 PM/ET

The crowd is screaming because Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez just showed up, so we hear.  Instead of showing them, let's interview Jennifer Hudson.  She looks like she's about to hit the club in her slinky platinum dress.   

Now onto Maroon 5. Adam Levine is the only band member being interviewed while the other guys awkwardly stand next to him.  I wonder what the rest of the band is thinking right now.  What are their names again?

7:45 PM/ET

Another Hot Chelle Rae preshow performance of their hit "Tonight, Tonight."  Still rooting for The Band Perry.  Sorry, Hot Chelle Rae.

7:49 PM/ET

Finally!  A shot of what some the superstars are wearing.  Taylor Swift has on a stunning long Reem Acra dress, and Justin Bieber's hair is slicked back.  If he wanted us to talk about his hair instead of his recent baby mama accusations, he's got it with this do.

7:54 PM/ET

Katy Perry just showed up.  Her hair is still pink (her roots are not.)  But she looks hot!

Image: JB Lacroix/WireImage

8:00 PM/ET

It's time for the show to start.  Nicki Minaj and David Guetta are opening with a performance of "Turn Me On" and "Super Bass."  David Guetta's got his headphones on, and Nicki's rocking a pink wig and futuristic metal outfit.  She looks and sounds like a superstar.

Now some David fist pumping.

8:08 PM/ET

Maroon 5 takes home the first award of the night for Pop/Rock - Band/Duo/Group.  Adam Levine is of course the only one who gets to speak during the acceptance speech.

8:15 PM/ET

Taylor Swift wins her eighth AMA to date for Country - Female Artist.  She deserved this award.  Go T-Swizzle!

8:17 PM/ET

Justin Bieber is performing his latest hit "Mistletoe."  His hair isn't slicked back anymore.  Where did his hair gel go? 

Image: Michael Tran/FilmMagic

The Band Perry immediately follows with "If I Die Young."  This is one of my favorite songs this year. 

8:29 PM/ET 

Chris Brown is the next performer with "All Back."  His hair is blonde again, and apparently he can do backflips. 

8:35 PM/ET

Nicki Minaj wins her very first AMA ever for Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and was the only female nominee.  It takes her a while to get to the mic with her sky-high heels and long green skirt, but who could walk in those shoes anyway?

Kelly Clarkson sings "Mr. Know It All."  She's smokin' in a red sequin dress and sounds better than ever.

8:45 PM/ET

It's Chris Brown vs. Rihanna for Soul/R&B Album.  Rihanna wins!  This moment must feel pretty good to her considering everything she's been through with him.

Enrique Iglesias performs "I Like How It Feels" and "Tonight (I'm Loving You)."  Oh look!  It's Ludacris.  I'm guessing that David Guetta is fist pumping somewhere. 

Up next after the commercial break... a performance from Jennifer Lopez and then her ex Marc Anthony.  Hmmm... this should be interesting.

9:00 PM/ET

Here's J. Lo, and she's wearing a slinky number while singing "Papi."  Some of her clothes come off, and Pitbull joins her onstage for "On the Floor."  Her outfit looks exactly like Britney Spears' transparent bodysuit from the music video for "Toxic."  She wins my award for sexiest performance of the night.

Image: Joe Kohen/WireImage

9:06 PM/ET

Lady Antebellum wins Country Band/Duo/Group for the second year in a row.  Not shocking.

9:13 PM/ET

Adam Lambert (and his tall hair) introduces OneRepublic.  I haven't seen Adam in the spotlight for a while.  OneRepublic sings "Good Life." Ryan Tedder's voice doesn't sound that good, but I still love this song. 

9:18 PM/ET

Taylor Swift presents the award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album to Nicki Minaj.  I would rmuch ather seenTaylor give the award to nominees Jay-Z and Kanye West.   If Taylor and Kanye were on the same stage again, maybe she would steal the trophy from him. 

9:22 PM/ET

Whaaat!!! It's Lil Jon on stage.  Where's he been hiding?  After performing earlier with J. Lo, now Pitbull joins Lil Jon and Marc Anthony for "Rain Over Me."  It's good to know Pitbull isn't taking sides in the divorce. 

9:32 PM/ET

Katy Perry is performing an acoustic version of "The One That Got Away" in a pink dress and guitar to match her hair.   She sounds great, and I want her guitar.

Surprise!  Heidi Klum gives Katy an achievement award for being the first woman to have five Number 1's from an album.  Go Katy!

9:39 PM/ET

Hot Chelle Rae wins New Artist of the Year.  Sorry, Hot Chelle Rae.  I underestimated you.

Image: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

9:46 PM/ET

Jennifer Lopez wins Latin Music Artist, breaking Enrique Iglesias' streak.  Hot damn, I love her black, flowery and nude dress!  Tonight is all about J. Lo's see-through outfits and the trend of female winners.

9:50 PM/ET

What would an award show be without a Mary J. Blige performance?  She is singing "Mr. Wrong" from her forthcoming album My Life: Act 2.  I love the song and her white pantssuit! 

9:54 PM/ET

Winning over fellow Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé takes the award for R&B/Soul Female Artist.  She couldn't be here tonight due to her pregnancy.  Get your rest, Bey! 

10:01 PM/ET

Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera perform "Moves Like Jagger."  Awesome!  Now I'll have this song stuck in my head the rest of the night. 

Quick stage switch and Gym Class Heroes join Adam for "Stereo Hearts."  Travie McCoy is looking rough.  I'm not liking his scruffy beard and frumpy outfit.

10:15 PM/ET 

Drake raps his latest hit "Headlines."  The crowd looks bored, but I'm loving it.

Image: Michael Tran/FilmMagic

10:20 PM/ET

Bruno Mars beats Justin Bieber for Pop/Rock Male Artist.  Justin Bieber wins for better hair in my book.

10:28 PM/ET

Daughtry sings their new track "Crawling Back to You" and sounds amazing. 

10:32 PM/ET

Katherine Heigl, Katherine Heigl's boobs and her husband Josh Kelley present the award for Country Album.  Taylor Swift continues her winning streak.  She's simply amazing!

10:38 PM/ET

Will.I.Am and J. Lo collaborate on "Hard" with a stage full of black lights and glow sticks for another cool performance.  This is the most amount of clothing that J. Lo has worn all evening.  Ooops!  Spoke too soon.  Off go her clothes. 

Mick Jagger was announced as a performer just a minute ago, but he only has a cameo on a big screen.  Too bad!

Adele snags Pop/Rock Album.  She's at home recovering from surgery.  Rest up Adele!  I'd like to see you sing at the Grammy's.

10:50 PM/ET

The biggest award of the night: Artist of the Year... Goes to... TAYLOR SWIFT!  This award will sit nicely next to her CMA trophy for 2011 Entertainer of the Year.

Image: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Taylor thanks her fans over and over... and over... and over a little more.  (You're welcome!)

10:53 PM/ET 

There's a grand finale being hyped up by Lionel Richie.  When Lionel stops raving about how awesome it's going to be, LMFAO and the audience wear creepy sunglasses for their performance of "Party Rock Anthem."

Justin Bieber joins LMFAO on stage.  Did he get a haircut during the commercial break?  And wait, is that David Hasselhoff and Keenan Cahill?  Of course it is! 

LMFAO are now wearing less clothes than J. Lo for "Sexy And I Know It," only they aren't as sexy.  My Facebook friends seem to like this performance, but I think it's horrendous.  Not exactly the way I wanted to show to end, but there's always next year!

Image: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

See coverage from the 2010 AMAs!

Image: ABC

 Katherine Epstein (@RTNowRadio) for RightNowRadio © 2011