AMAs 2012 Photos: Show & Backstage Pics From the American Music Awards

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November 18: Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held in Los Angeles, California.

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Nicki Minaj, Cyndi Lauper and Taylor Swift pose in the audience at the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

Pink in 2012

Pink is extremely acrobatic during her performance at the AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Carrie Underwood blows away the crowd with her performance at the 2012 AMAS.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Usher holds his new AMAs trophy aloft. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Christina Aguilera gives an ethereal performance during the 2012 American Music Awards.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Ke$ha is held aloft by her dancers during her dramatic 2012 AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Justin Bieber hugs his mom in the audience at the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Winner Justin Bieber shows off his new AMAs trophy on stage at the American Music Awards, Nov. 18, 2012 in Los Angeles. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Pitbull performs at the 2012 AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Linkin Park rocks the crowd at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre during the 2012 AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Nicki Minaj, in pink and white, performs during the 2012 AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum present an AMA to Luke Bryan.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

Jenny McCarthy’s Big Kiss in 2012

Presenter Jenny McCarthy plants a playful kiss on winner Justin Bieber as he accepts the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Chris Brown and Ludacris have an onstage party for the AMAs 40th anniversary. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Taylor Swift sings during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Yup, Bieber wins again. Justin accepts the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album onstage during the 40th American Music Awards. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Nicki Minaj and Christina Aguilera compare blonde locks backstage at the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Carly Rae Jepsen performs “Call Me Maybe” from among pastel phone booths onstage at the 2012 American Music Awards.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Usher performs “Numb,” “Climax” and “Can’t Sop Won’t Stop” at the 2012 American Music Awards Nov. 18. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Chris Brown and Swizz Beatz in shades together at the 2012 AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Singer Nicki Minaj (C) onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/AMA2012/Getty Images for AMA)

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Backstreet Boys Present! BSB’s Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and AJ McLean show off the fact that Carly Rae Jepsen just won an AMA. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Carrie Underwood smiles from her seat at the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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PSY is all smiles (and shades) in his seat in the audience at the 2012 American Music Awards.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Taylor Swift takes the mic onstage at the AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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The Wanted (Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker, Nathan Sykes, Max George, and Jay McGuiness) perform during the 2012 AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Kelly Clarkson belts it out at the American Music Awards on Nov. 18, 2012 in L.A. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Luke Bryan is the happies man in the room, accepting the award for Favorite Country Male Artist onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Taylor sings her heart out along side her masked dancer at the 2012 AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani preforms during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Ke$ha and her “Die Young” skull dancers get down during her performance at the AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Lucy Hale and Phillip Phillips present onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Cyndi Lauper reminded everyone that girls still just wanna have fun when she introduced Ke$ha’s performance at the 2012 AMAs.

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Taylor Swifttakes a breather during her very busy night at the 2012 AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

The Wanted’s Tom Parker strikes a pose while performing at the AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Presenters Stacy Keibler and Ne-Yo onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Presenters Apolo Ohno and Kerry Washington onstage during the AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Taylor Swift gets down (literally) onstage during the 40th American Music Awards.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Presenter Eric Stonestreet onstage during the AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Presenters Jennifer Morrison and Ginnifer Goodwin onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Colbie Caillat poses in the audience at the 40th American Music Awards.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Will.i.am and Usher smile in the AMAs audience. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Neon Trees’ Chris Allen, Tyler Glenn, Elaine Bradley and Branden Campbell of Neon Trees onstage during the AMAs. Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Gloria Estefan Emilio Estefan pose in the audience at the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

PSY & MC Hammer Perform Together in 2012

Hammertime! PSY and MC Hammer join forces for a surprise “Gangnam Style”/”2 Legit 2 Quit” performance.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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November 18: Psy and MC Hammer at the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theater L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California.

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Carrie Underwood wins! Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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50 cent and Hayden Panettiere join forces to present an award at the 2012 AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage

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Usher, music producer Noah ’40’ Shebib and rapper Drake stop for a photo in the audience at the 2012 AMAs.Read More: American Music Awards 2012 – Full Coverage