SEL STRIDES BACK 

She’s back and how! Selena Gomez, who had a kidney transplant a few months ago, took the stage for the first time since the procedure to perform her Marshmello collaboration, Wolves. After walking the red carpet (minus Justin Bieber!) in a leather zip-up mini dress (picture right), she switched to a mini white nightgown to turn in a performance (more of that later) which was somewhat dark and eerie as she appeared laying on top of a car — with bruises on her knees — that seemed to have had an accident. Though her star power hasn’t been dented by her health issues, Selena is being accused of lip-syncing her performance at AMA. And oh, she has a new hairstyle. “So I am blonde now,” the 25-year-old wrote on Instagram and showed it off at the Sunday night show in Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater.

THERE BUT NOT QUITE

Mother Monster is on tour and couldn’t make it to AMA but that didn’t stop her from slaying on the red carpet. What?! Yes, Lady Gaga Instagrammed images that looked as if she were walking the red carpet in a sexy LBD that paid tribute to late designer Azzedine Alaia. Of course, she also gave the audience a performance (The Cure) via satellite. 

K-POP TAKES OVER

The screams were deafening as K-pop sensation BTS brought down the house with their performance of DNA, the lead single from their album Love Yourself: Her. The boys donned colourful jackets to give American primetime television some cool dance moves. 

LETTING IT GO

Hailee Steinfeld donned a sequinned dress and thigh-high boots to give her first live performance of the single, Let Me Go, joined by Alesso, Florida Georgia Line and Andrew Watt. The star of the upcoming third edition of the a capella film Pitch Perfect was full of swank and her performance was just the upbeat moment AMA needed. 

FIRST FOR SHAWN

Shawn Mendes is going places. He gave a critic-proof rendition of There’s Nothing Holding Me Back and also took home the Favourite Adult Contemporary Artiste trophy. Yes, his first AMA.

Catch the repeat telecast of American Music Awards on Vh1 today at 3pm