Machine Gun Kelly was named Favorite Rock Artist at the 2022 American Music Awards on Sunday (Nov. 20).
The rapper turned rock star was on hand to accept the award at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The American Music Award for Favorite Rock Artist goes to @machinegunkelly! #AMAs pic.twitter.com/JYuGSpUxIx
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) November 21, 2022
The Cleveland native took to the stage, wearing a purple suit with nearly dozens of nearly foot long metal spikes, to receive the trophy from Meghan Trainor, who announced him as the winner.
“Thank you to the fans who got me here,” Machine Gun Kelly said as he took to the stage. He then responded to a fan who shouted “I love you” by saying “and I love you!”
“I just want to say [that] I’m petitioning for larger mic stands next time. This suit is really uncomfortable to pee in. Speaking of uncomfortable, there have been some people in the rock community, who’ve called me a tourist, but they’re wrong I’m a rocket man. We weren’t born on the moon, but we looked at it and were curious and we went there, supposedly. And these last two rock albums were me going to the moon, but I’m not done exploring the universe yet and I am all genres.”
POV: you just won an award for Favorite Rock Artist #AMAs @machinegunkelly pic.twitter.com/oL7fXOyxQa
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) November 21, 2022
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Måneskin, Imagine Dragons and The Lumineers were also nominated in the Favorite Rock Artist category. Machine Gun Kelly also took home the award for Favorite Rock Artist in 2021 at the AMAs, which marked his first-ever nomination at the coveted awards show.
In addition to being nominated for Favorite Rock Artist, Machine Gun Kelly was also up for Favorite Rock Album (Mainstream Sellout).
The 2022 American Music Awards featured performances from Rexha, Guetta, Carrie Underwood, Imagine Dragons, P!NK, Yola, Anitta, D-Nice (House DJ), Dove Cameron, GloRilla, J.I.D., Lil Baby, WizKid, Tems, and more.
P!nk, who kicked off the AMAs with the live debut of her latest single “Never Gonna Not Dance Again,” also delivered an emotional tribute performance to the late Olivia Newton-John, who died of breast cancer at 73-years-old in August of 2022.
Stevie Wonder also joined forces with Ari Lennox and Charlie Puth to perform a medley of Lionel Richie’s hit songs in honor of the American Idol judge and former Commodores member, who is the 2022 AMAs Icon Award recipient.
Additionally, Jimmie Allen, Meghan Trainor, Dan + Shay, Dustin Lynch, Ellie Goulding, Jessie James Decker, Kelly Rowland, Kim Petras, Latto, Melissa Etheridge, Sabrina Carpenter and Smokey Robinson, Karreuche Tran, Roselyn Sanchez, Niecy Nash-Betts and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Liza Koshy were on hand to present during the coveted awards show ceremony.
Hosted by Wayne Brady, the 2022 American Music Awards aired live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 20 at 8/7c on ABC.
