American Music Awards 2012 Performances: See the Photos!

The promos for the American Music Awards promised our playlist would come alive—and it did! With 17 performances throughout the three-hour broadcast, we had our heads bobbing to the music all night, which is why we rounded up our favorite performances for you right here. Nicki Minaj, who won for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Album, wowed with a winter wonderland performance of her new single “Freedom,” No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani epitomized her new song “Looking Hot” with an Emilio Pucci crystal-embellished houndstooth jacket, and Korean pop sensation Psy shocked the audience when he brought out special guest MC Hammer for a “2 Legit 2 Quit” and “Gangham Style” dance mash-up to close the show. “With Psy I knew right away that he’s a good guy,” MC Hammer told reporters after the performance. “I told him dance has only moved the planet four times. James Brown with his dance shifted the planet. Michael Jackson with his dance shifted the planet. Yours truly, Hammertime, shifted the planet. And now Psy shifted the planet. So, to be with somebody who shifted the planet, and have fun—I loved doing it and we had a great time together.” Click through to see all our favorite performances!

— Meghan Blalock, with reporting by Lindzi Scharf