American Music Awards 2016 magical event, Details.

American Music Awards 2016 magical event, Details.

Bruno Mars opened the 2016 American Music Awards, fresh off of his new album release; he sang an energetic rendition of the titular song “24K Magic,” complete with ’90s-style tracksuits.

Photo Source: Variety Latino

The American Music Awards were low on excitement but heavy on Donald Trump jokes at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater Sunday night. While artists including Sting and Green Day were not shy about their disapproval for the president-elect (the latter chanting "No Trump / No KKK" during their performance of Bang Bang), most acts played it safe with their limited stage time. Ariana Grande walked away with the night's biggest honor, artist of the year, while Drake and Twenty One Pilots also took home multiple awards.

Co-hosts Jay Pharoah and Gigi Hadid greeted the audience at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and Hadid joked, “Don’t worry guys tonight we do not have to deal with the electoral college, so ... ”

“Tonight, it’s all about the music,” said Pharoah.

With high-profile nominees Beyoncé, Adele and Rihanna not in attendance, viewers had to settle with listless performances from Bruno Mars, The Chainsmokers, Fifth Harmony and Shawn Mendes in the first half of the show. But The Weeknd woke up the uneventful proceedings with his kaleidoscopic performance of Daft Punk-featuring hit single Starboy, which he swaggered through inside an icy lair with a rare smile on his face.

Tearful speech of Selena: The artist-of-the-year winner closed out the night with a tearful speech, thanking her fans and referencing her recent stint in rehab, which resulted in the cancellation of multiple tour dates as she focused "on her mental health." "I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside," Gomez said. "I kept it too much together because I let myself down." But "I'm not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore," she added, telling fans that "if you are broken, you do not have to stay broken."

Nicki Minaj, DJ Khaled and August Alsina took the stage to perform “Do You Mind,” and they were quickly joined by Future and Rick Ross. During the song, DJ Khaled reminded the audience several times that it is currently the no. 1 record in the country

Blake Jenner and Hailee Steinfeld presented Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, which went to Selena Gomez -- her first American Music Award.

“Most of you knew a lot of my life whether I liked it or not and I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside,” she said. 

She continued, “I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s in here ... If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.”

The camera panned to Lady Gaga, who appeared to be crying, as she held her hand over her heart.

Jenny McCarthy and former AMA winner Donnie Wahlberg presented Artist of the Year, which went to Ariana Grande. It was Grande’s third American Music Award. She said she was trying not to cry as she thanked her fans, family and colleagues.

Model Hannah Davis introduced Maroon 5 and Kendrick Lamar onstage to close out the show and perform “Don’t Wanna Know.”