# American Music Awards of 1991

The 18th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 28, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. The awards recognized the most popular artists and albums from the year 1990.

## Performances

| Artist(s) | Song(s) |
| MC Hammer | "Here Comes The Hammer" |
| Mariah Carey | "Someday" |
| New Kids on the Block Flavor Flav | "Games" |
| Clint Black | "Put Yourself in My Shoes" |
| Gloria Estefan | "Coming Out of the Dark" |
| Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" |
| George Strait Garth Brooks Travis Tritt Clint Black The Kentucky Headhunters Lorrie Morgan Alan Jackson Larry Gatlin Patty Loveless Roger Miller | Tribute to Merle Haggard: "If We Make It Through December" (Strait) "Mama Tried" (Brooks) "Today I Started Loving You Again" (Tritt) "Okie from Muskogee" |
| Poison | "Unskinny Bop" |
| Wilson Phillips | Medley: "Hold On" "Release Me" "Impulsive" "You're in Love" |
| Reba McEntire | "Fancy" |
| Bell Biv DeVoe | "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?" |
| INXS | "Disappear" |

## Winners and nominees

| Subcategory | Winner | Nominees |
| Pop/Rock Category |||
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | Phil Collins | Michael Bolton MC Hammer |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist | Janet Jackson | Paula Abdul Mariah Carey Madonna Sinéad O'Connor |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Aerosmith | Bell Biv DeVoe New Kids on the Block |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Album | ...But Seriously – Phil Collins | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em – MC Hammer Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Song | "Blaze of Glory" – Jon Bon Jovi | "Vogue" – Madonna "Hold On" – Wilson Phillips |
| Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist | Vanilla Ice | Mariah Carey Wilson Phillips |
| Soul/R&B Category |||
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist | MC Hammer | Quincy Jones Keith Sweat |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist | Janet Jackson | Regina Belle Mariah Carey Miki Howard Lisa Stansfield |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Tony! Toni! Toné! | After 7 Bell Biv DeVoe |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Album | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em – MC Hammer | Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson Back on the Block – Quincy Jones |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Song | "U Can't Touch This" – MC Hammer | "Merry Go Round" – Keith Sweat "Feels Good" – Tony! Toni! Toné! |
| Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist | Bell Biv DeVoe | Johnny Gill Lisa Stansfield |
| Country Category |||
| Favorite Country Male Artist | George Strait | Clint Black Garth Brooks |
| Favorite Country Female Artist | Reba McEntire | Patty Loveless Kathy Mattea Lorrie Morgan K.T. Oslin |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group | Alabama | The Judds Shenandoah |
| Favorite Country Album | Reba Live – Reba McEntire | Killin' Time – Clint Black Livin' It Up – George Strait |
| Favorite Country Song | "If Tomorrow Never Comes" – Garth Brooks | "Born to Be Blue" – The Judds "Love Without End, Amen" – George Strait |
| Favorite Country New Artist | Kentucky Headhunters | Alan Jackson Travis Tritt |
| Dance Category |||
| Favorite Dance Artist | Janet Jackson | Madonna Michel'le |
| Favorite Dance Song | "Vogue" – Madonna | "Hold On" – En Vogue "The Power" – Snap! |
| Favorite Dance New Artist | Bell Biv DeVoe | En Vogue Michel'le |
| Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Category |||
| Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist | Aerosmith | Mötley Crüe Poison |
| Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album | Dr. Feelgood – Mötley Crüe | Pump – Aerosmith Flesh & Blood – Poison |
| Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist | Slaughter | Bruce Dickinson Don Dokken |
| Rap/Hip-Hop Category |||
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist | MC Hammer | Too Short Vanilla Ice |
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em – MC Hammer | Fear of a Black Planet – Public Enemy To the Extreme – Vanilla Ice |
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist | Vanilla Ice | Candyman Digital Underground |
| Merit |||
| Merle Haggard |||