While none of the major trophies landed in the hands of North Texas artists on Sunday night, hometown talents still claimed some of the American Music Awards' most memorable moments.
Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas turned in some of the better performances. Lovato did double duty, offering her own current single "Confident" early in the show and later teaming with Alanis Morissette for a rendition of "You Oughta Know."
Fort Worth's Leon Bridges turned up during Macklemore's performance to provide the soothing soul vocals in the rapper's new single.
Pentatonix, the best-selling a cappella pop group featuring three members from Arlington, joined an orchestra to re-create the iconic John Williams score from 'Star Wars.' The group was introduced by Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford.
Keep reading for the best and worst moments of Sunday night's awards show. This might give you some guidance in case it's still waiting for you on your DVR.
BESTS
-- Pentatonix looked and sounded on point creating their relentlessly hyped AMA Star Wars "viral moment." The ABC/Disney machine recruited our Arlington a cappella stars to deliver their take on the classic saga's score. I think there's some sequel coming out soon? They delivered a perfectly ominous "Imperial March" before joining an orchestra for more selections.
-- Prince's three-lens sunglasses caught everyone's attention as he presented the award for Soul/R&B Album. In case you were wondering, the extra lens allows Prince to see your feelings.
-- Selena Gomez showed some nice swagger during a 'Material Girl'-after-dark treatment of her single "Same Old Love." It ended with our Grand Prairie girl backed by a gaggle of male tap dancers.
-- Another North Texan, Demi Lovato, put her powerful voice to the test on some crazy runs during a Cabaret-like performance of "Confident." Later in the show, Lovato joined Alanis Morissette on a perfectly fine version of "You Oughta Know," although I thought it was odd the way both women paced the stage throughout. Kind of difficult to connect when you're doing so much walking.
-- Host J. Lo and tens of dancers opened the big show with choreographic odes to this year's biggest pop hits. The kickoff performance offered plenty of Vegas glitz. Much better than some attempt at a comedy skit.
-- All the pyrotechnics and posturing of the Weeknd's "The Hills" performance were worth it in the end when he did that awesomely strange ad-libbing.
-- Fort Worth's Leon Bridges popped up to steal some thunder from the rapper Macklemore on the latter's new single, "kevin". Overall the song's pretty disjointed -- its verses rail against the perils of prescription drug abuse -- but Bridges' vocal soothes as much as Macklemore's rapping grates.
-- Celine Dion was ever the class act in honoring Paris' terrorism victims with a rendition of Edith Piaf's "Hymne à L'Amour."
-- Justin Bieber ended his show-closing medley on Sunday with on-stage rain and plenty of splash-dancing. And I'm left trying to dislodge "Sorry" from my brain.
-- Although Nick Jonas had some strained vocal moments during his medley of hits, in the end he performed with enough conviction to overcome minor issues.
WORSTS
-- Five Seconds of Summer added a bunch of oh-oh's to an old Duran Duran melody and performed it as an original song.
-- Maybe nerves got the best of him, but the young singer Charlie Puth remained shaky and off key throughout his duet with Meghan Trainor.
-- Funny that Ariana Grande's new single is called "Focus," because that's exactly what the performance of it lacked. The immensely talented Grande tried to do an awful lot on that stage, but the short bursts of vocalization and random choreography added up to nothin' special.
-- How many times did the camera cut away to a fan trying to sing along but not knowing the words? This could have been a drinking game. Maybe it was. You'll never know.
-- We wondered why Coldplay had those dancing apes on stage during the cloyingly dance-y "Adventure of a Lifetime," and then seconds after the live performance, apes danced to Coldplay's song in a commercial. The evolution of hucksterism.
AWARD WINNERS
Soul/R&B Album: The Weeknd (presented by Prince, because we're required to include that)
Pop/Rock Duo or Group: One Direction
Country Male: Luke Bryan
Soundtrack: Pitch Perfect 2
Rap/Hip-Hop Album: Nicki Minaj
New Artist: Sam Hunt
Pop/Rock Female: Ariana Grande
Country Female: Carrie Underwood
Collaboration of the Year: "Where Are Ü Now," by Skrillex, Diplo and Justin Bieber
Alternative Rock Artist: Fall Out Boy
Rap/Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Soul/R&B Male: The Weekend
Artist of the Year: One Direction
RED CARPET PHOTOS
