Justin Bieber may be Canadian, but he was the all-American boy at Sunday night’s American Music Awards.
The pop singer dominated the awards show, winning three trophies, including artist of the year. His mom joined him onstage as he collected the award, beating out Rihanna, Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Drake.
“I wanted to thank you for always believing in me,” Mr. Bieber said, looking to his mom.
Nicki Minaj, who wore three different wigs and four outfits throughout the night, repeated her AMAs wins from last year, picking up trophies for favorite rap/hip-hop artist and album for “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.”
Usher kicked off the three-hour show with green laser lights beaming onstage as he performed a medley of songs, including “Numb,” “Climax” and “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.” He won favorite soul/R&B male artist.
His protege, Mr. Bieber, won favorite pop/rock male artist in the first award handed out and gave a shout-out to those who didn’t think he would last on the music scene.
“I want to say this is for all the haters who thought I was just here for one or two years. I feel like I’m going to be here for a very long time,” he said.
He also won favorite pop/rock album for his platinum-selling third album, “Believe.”
Taylor Swift won her fifth consecutive award for favorite country female artist.
“This is unreal. I want to thank the fans. You guys are the ones who voted on this,” she said.
Dick Clark, who created the AMAs, was remembered by Ryan Seacrest and an upbeat performance by Stevie Wonder.
“What a producer he was,” Mr. Seacrest said, as Mr. Wonder sang his hits, including “My Cherie Amour.”
Carly Rae Jepsen, who performed early in the night, won favorite new artist. Luke Bryan won favorite country male artist and Lady Antebellum favorite country group.
American Music Awards nominees were selected based on sales and airplay, and fans chose the winners by voting online.
Franklin: ’It was fabulous’ to sing for first lady
Aretha Franklin said “it was fabulous” to have first lady Michelle Obama and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. attend her show in the District.
The Queen of Soul sang for Mrs. Obama and Mr. Holder — as well as for about 3,000 other fans at DAR Constitution Hall on Saturday night. Afterward, Miss Franklin said it was great to see her VIP guests relax and “shake their hips a little,” especially after a tough re-election campaign.
Miss Franklin has performed for Mrs. Obama before — at the 2009 inauguration of President Obama. Miss Franklin told The Associated Press she doesn’t think there will be an encore in 2013, though if invited she “would certainly come and would love to sing.”
Miss Franklin also paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston, singing “I Will Always Love You.”
AC/DC announces release of albums on iTunes
AC/DC is finally releasing its music digitally on iTunes.
Columbia Records and Apple announced Monday that the classic rock band’s music will be available at the iTunes Store worldwide. Sixteen studio albums will be released, including “High Voltage” and “Back in Black.”
AC/DC was one of the few acts that would not release music through the digital outlet. The Beatles and Kid Rock were also against selling music on iTunes, but have since jumped onboard. Country star Garth Brooks has yet to release his music on iTunes.
Four of AC/DC’s live albums and three compilation records also are available. The statement said the songs have been mastered for iTunes “with increased audio fidelity.”
Charlie Chaplin’s hat, cane bring $62,500 at auction
Charlie Chaplin’s iconic bowler hat and cane were auctioned off for $62,500 this past weekend, as part of an auction that also included a John Lennon nude drawing of himself and Yoko Ono.
The hat and cane, trademark of Chaplin’s Little Tramp character, were in “remarkable condition” and had been estimated to go for between $40,000 and $60,000 at the sale by auction house Bonhams in Los Angeles on Sunday. But when it went under the hammer, the sale price hit $62,500, the auctioneers said.
Legend has it that Chaplin came up with the tramp persona and wardrobe spontaneously one rainy afternoon in February 1914, seizing various wardrobe items in a communal male dressing room at a Hollywood studio.
These included baggy trousers from actor Fatty Arbuckle, size 14 shoes which he had to wear on the wrong feet to keep them from falling off, the hat belonging to Arbuckle’s father-in-law, and a mustache intended for another actor.
The 32-inch bamboo cane is inscribed “CCLT 36” in black ink, a reference to the Little Tramp, Chaplin’s signature character.
Other items sold Sunday include a handwritten letter by Beatle John Lennon with a nude drawing of himself and wife Yoko Ono, sent to an avant-garde magazine publisher in connection with the controversial 1968 “Two Virgins” nude album cover. The letter went for $25,000.
Also auctioned: a collection of original photographs of Marilyn Monroe that went for $21,250, and three signed, abstract original oil paintings by crooner Frank Sinatra, the most valuable of which auctioned for $10,625.
• Compiled from Web and wire reports
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