The American Music Awards marked its 40th anniversary Sunday night from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles -- and the passing of its creator, Dick Clark -- with a ceremony that looked back while it celebrated this year's winners. The show mixed vintage clips of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson with fresh performances and multiple product-placement ads for the sponsor's tablet device.

The love was spread around very evenly awards-wise, with only Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj snagging more than one trophy. The Bieb took home top honors in the Artist of the Year, Favorite Male Pop Rock Artist and Favorite Pop-Rock Album for Believe, while Nicki notched wins in the Favorite Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Hip-Hop album categories.

Clark, who passed away in spring, was also the recipient of plenty of affection -- wrapped up nicely in a video tribute soundtracked by Stevie Wonder, who performed his hits "Jammin'," "My Cherie Amour" and "Sir Duke."

  • Usher kicked off the show with a medley of "Numb" and "Can't Stop Won't Stop," showing off more dance moves than vocal chops but earning applause from his pal Justin Bieber, who watched from the audience.
  • Carly Rae Jepsen descended to the stage in a telephone booth -- something most of her fans have never seen -- to mime her way through "Call Me Maybe" while sporting a dress short enough to threaten a wardrobe malfunction at every turn.
  • Kelly Clarkson turned in one of the sharpest performances of the night, incorporating parts of hits like "Miss Independent," "Stronger" and "Since You Been Gone" -- and wearing a lanyard with a number, a sly reference to those early American Idol cattle calls.
  • Gwen Stefani, looking very blonde and very botoxed, led No Doubt through a pyro-enhanced version of "Looking Hot."
  • Taylor Swift performed her least country-styled song so far, "I Knew You Were Trouble," while pulling off a nifty onstage costume change.
  • Linkin Park hit all their sweet spots in "Bring It Down," mixing equal parts pop melody and headbanging rhythm with a smidgen of hip-hop.
  • Nicki Minaj followed that with her own trademark weirdness, referencing Jesus Christ and her own album in a performance of her new single "Freedom," delivered from inside an outfit that looked like a giant marshmallow.
  • Pink set her performance of the rock ballad "Try" to a dance routine that merged her usual acrobatics with elements of staged domestic violence that left a chill in the air.
  • Justin Bieber played the sensitive card by perching on a stool for an acoustic version of "As Long As You Love Me," but kept his street cred by hanging onto the backwards baseball cap -- all the better to switch gears for the Auto-tune-fest  "Beauty and a Beat."
  • Christina Aguilera kept the Auto-tune rolling for a medley pieced together from her new Lotus album -- and even splurged for some Hula Hoops for her background dancers.
  • Carrie Underwood proved she didn't need any technological help by ripping into "Two Black Cadillacs" with a gusto not seen in many of the night's performances.
  • The evening wrapped up with PSY doing it "Gangnam Style." The Korean Internet sensation put an unexpected twist on things, though, bringing out kindred spirit MC Hammer, who wove his "Too Legit to Quit" into the viral hit, proving that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS

  • Artist of the Year: Justin Bieber
  • Favorite Pop-Rock Male Artist: Justin Bieber
  • Favorite Pop-Rock Female Artist: Katy Perry
  • Favorite Pop-Rock Band, Duo or Group: Maroon 5
  • Favorite Pop-Rock Album: Justin Bieber: Believe
  • Favorite Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
  • Favorite Country Group: Lady Antebellum
  • Favorite Country Male Artist: Luke Bryan
  • Favorite Country Album: Carrie Underwood: Blown Away
  • Favorite Hip-Hop Album: Nicki Minaj -- Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
  • Favorite Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
  • Favorite Alternative Rock Artist: Linkin Park
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist: Usher
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist: Beyonce
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Album: Rihanna -- Talk That Talk 
  • Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist: David Guetta
  • Favorite New Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen
  • Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist: Adele
  • Favorite Latin Music Artist: Shakira
  • Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist: tobyMac