Cardi B made a shock return to the stage at Sunday’s 2022 American Music Awards as she performed on stage with GloRilla – days after attending Takeoff’s funeral.
The rapper, 30, put on a brave face as she slipped into a busty pastel blue bodysuit to perform Tomorrow 2 with her collaborator GloRilla, 23.
Cardi looked incredible as she pulled off an energetic performance with her tresses styled in a sleek updo.
Comeback: Cardi B made a shock return to the stage at Sunday’s 2022 American Music Awards as she performed on stage with GloRilla – days after attending Takeoff’s funeral
GloRilla wore a yellow and black bikini top paired with matching gloves and pants as she supported her pal Cardi.
The performance comes little over a week after Cardi and her loved ones said a final farewell to Takeoff, who was killed by gunshots on November 1.
Takeoff, one third of Migos, was the nephew of Cardi’s husband Offset.
The service on November 11 saw Drake deliver an emotional eulogy comparing himself and Migos to the Rat Pack, according to TMZ. Meanwhile top-flight stars including Justin Bieber and Chloe Bailey delivered musical performances in Takeoff’s memory.
Mourners gathered in the State Farm Arena, including Cardi, who concealed her eyes behind a massive pair of sunglasses as she sat in the audience.
Performance: The rapper, 30, put on a brave face as she slipped into a busty pastel blue bodysuit to perform Tomorrow 2 with her collaborator GloRilla, 23
AMAs 2022 WINNERS: AT A GLANCE
ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Taylor Swift
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Dove Cameron
FAVORITE POP SONG: Harry Styles – As It Was
FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM: Taylor Swift – Red
FAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST: Kendrick Lamar
FAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST: Nicki Minaj
FAVORITE MALE R&B ARTIST: Chris Brown
FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST: Beyoncé
FAVORITE MALE LATIN ARTIST: Bad Bunny
FAVORITE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST: Anitta
FAVORITE ROCK ARTIST: Machine Gun Kelly
FAVORITE ROCK SONG: Måneskin – Beggin’
FAVORITE AFROBEATS ARTIST: Wizkid
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO: Taylor Swift – All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)
FAVORITE MALE POP ARTIST: Harry Styles
FAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTIST: Taylor Swift
FAVORITE POP GROUP OR DUO: BTS
FAVORITE POP ALBUM: Taylor Swift – Red (Taylor’s Version)
FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST: Morgan Wallen
FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST: Taylor Swift
FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUP: Dan + Shay
FAVORITE K-POP ARTIST: BTS
Goodbye: The performance comes little over a week after Cardi and her loved ones said a final farewell to Takeoff, who was killed by gunshots on November 1
A brief social media clip of Drake’s eulogy saw him hail Takeoff as ‘forever balanced. Whenever he would take his shades off, he had this thing about him that I loved – no matter what was going on around us he was, like, always kinda squinting but like his eyes were wide open.’
Offset found himself reduced to tears as he gave a speech memorializing his cousin, whom he credited with having ‘changed the culture of music forever.’
Footage of the speech posted to TikTok showed Offset repeatedly becoming too overcome with emotion to go on, only for the audience to applaud and encourage him.
He begged God to give him and his family ‘strength,’ saying: ‘I don’t wanna question you, God, I just don’t – I don’t get it. I don’t get you sometimes.’
Onstage: Cardi looked incredible as she pulled off an energetic performance with her tresses styled in a sleek updo
The AMAs saw Taylor Swift complete a clean sweep – winning all six categories she was nominated in.
Taylor won the awards for Favorite Pop Album and Favorite Country Album for Red (Taylor’s Version), Favorite Music Video for All Too Well: The Short Film, Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Female Artist and Favorite Country Female Artist.
Machine Gun Kelly took home the honors for favorite rock artist. He bested a field including Imagine Dragons, Måneskin, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Lumineers.
Go for it: GloRilla wore a yellow and black bikini top paired with matching gloves and pants as she supported her pal Cardi
Wow: The musicians gave the performance their all
Point: The stars showed off their dance moves as they took to the stage
Dan + Shay took home the award for favorite country duo or group, besting a field including Lady A, Old Dominion, Parmalee and Zac Brown Band.
Chris Brown, who was not in attendance at Sunday’s event, won the honors for favorite male R&B artist, defeating a field including Brent Faiyaz, Givēon, Lucky Daye and The Weeknd.
Presenter Kelly Rowland accepted the honors for Brown, thanking the artist for making great R&B music and being an incredible performer.
Tragic: Takeoff was shot and killed earlier this month outside a Houston bowling alley
Anitta won favorite female Latin artist, prevailing in a category including Becky G, Kali Uchis, Karol G and Rosalía.
Wizkid, who was not present, was the winner in the category of favorite Afrobeats artist, besting fellow nominees. The 32-year-old artist won in a category that also included Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML, and Tems.
Måneskin won the favorite rock song award for their song Beggin’. They were nominated against Foo Fighters (Love Dies Young); Imagine Dragons x JID (Enemy); Kate Bush (Running Up That Hill A Deal With God) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (Black Summer).
In the category for favorite hip-hop song, presenter Liza Koshy accepted the honors on behalf of the winner Future featuring Drake & Tems for Wait For U.
‘Throw me a lil sign’: Offset remembered his late cousin in an emotional post
Other nominees included Jack Harlow (First Class), Kodak Black (Super Gremlin), Latto (Big Energy) and Lil Nas X featuring Harlow (Industry Baby).
The Harry Styles hit As It Was claimed the honors for favorite pop song, winning in a category that also included Adele (Easy on Me); Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast (We Don’t Talk About Bruno); Lizzo (About Damn Time); and The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber (Stay).
Presenter Kim Petras accepted the honors on behalf of the superstar singer, who was not at the show on Sunday.
Harry Styles also won Favorite Male Pop Artist.
American Music Awards 2022: WINNERS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Adele
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Drake
Harry Styles
Taylor Swift (Winner)
The Weeknd
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dove Cameron (Winner)
GAYLE
Latto
Måneskin
Steve Lacy
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast – We Don’t Talk About Bruno
Elton John & Dua Lipa – Cold Heart – PNAU Remix (Winner)
Future ft. Drake & Tems – WAIT FOR U
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow – INDUSTRY BABY
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – STAY
FAVORITE TOURING ARTIST
Bad Bunny
Coldplay (Winner)
Ed Sheeran
Elton John
The Rolling Stones
FAVORITE POP SONG
Adele – Easy on Me
Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast – We Don’t Talk About Bruno
Harry Styles – As It Was (Winner)
Lizzo – About Damn Time
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – Stay
FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM
Carrie Underwood – Denim & Rhinestones
Luke Combs – Growin’ Up
Cody Johnson – Human: The Double Album
Taylor Swift – Red (Taylor’s Version) (Winner)
Walker Hayes – Country Stuff: The Album
FAVORITE COUNTRY SONG
Chris Stapleton – You Should Probably Leave
Cody Johnson – Til You Can’t
Dustin Lynch ft. MacKenzie Porter – Thinking ‘Bout You
Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan – Buy Dirt
Morgan Wallen – Wasted on You (Winner)
FAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar (Winner)
Lil Baby
Lil Durk
FAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Cardi B
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj (Winner)
FAVORITE MALE R&B ARTIST
Brent Faiyaz
Chris Brown (Winner)
Givēon
Lucky Daye
The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST
Beyoncé (Winner)
Doja Cat
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
FAVORITE MALE LATIN ARTIST
Bad Bunny (Winner)
Farruko
J Balvin
Jhayco
Rauw Alejandro
FAVORITE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST
Anitta (Winner)
Becky G
Kali Uchis
Karol G
Rosalía
FAVORITE ROCK ARTIST
Imagine Dragons
Machine Gun Kelly (Winner)
Måneskin
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Lumineers
FAVORITE ROCK SONG
Foo Fighters – Love Dies Young
Imagine Dragons x JID – Enemy
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
Måneskin – Beggin’ (Winner)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer
FAVORITE ROCK ALBUM
Coldplay – Music of the Spheres
Ghost – Impera (Winner)
Imagine Dragons – Mercury – Act 1
Machine Gun Kelly – mainstream sellout
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love
FAVORITE DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST
Diplo
Marshmello (Winner)
Swedish House Mafia
The Chainsmokers
Tiësto
FAVORITE AFROBEATS ARTIST
Burna Boy
CKay
Fireboy DML
Tems
Wizkid (Winner)
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Adele – Easy On Me
Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone – Me Porto Bonito
Harry Styles – As It Was
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow – INDUSTRY BABY
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) (Winner)
FAVORITE MALE POP ARTIST
Bad Bunny
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles (Winner)
The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTIST
Adele
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Lizzo
Taylor Swift (Winner)
FAVORITE POP GROUP OR DUO
BTS (Winner)
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
Måneskin
OneRepublic
FAVORITE POP ALBUM
Adele – 30
Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
Beyoncé – Renaissance
Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Taylor Swift – Red (Taylor’s Version) (Winner)
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Chris Stapleton
Cody Johnson
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen (Winner)
Walker Hayes
FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Carrie Underwood
Lainey Wilson
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift (Winner)
FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUP
Dan + Shay (Winner)
Lady A
Old Dominion
Parmalee
Zac Brown Band
FAVORITE HIP-HOP ALBUM
Future – I Never Liked You
Gunna – DS4EVER
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (Winner)
Lil Durk – 7220
Polo G – Hall of Fame 2.0
FAVORITE HIP-HOP SONG
Future ft. Drake & Tems – Wait For U (Winner)
Jack Harlow – First Class
Kodak Black – Super Gremlin
Latto – Big Energy
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow – Industry Baby
FAVORITE R&B ALBUM
Beyoncé – Renaissance (Winner)
Drake – Honestly, Nevermind
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – An Evening with Silk Sonic
Summer Walker – Still Over It
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
FAVORITE LATIN DUO OR GROUP
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
Grupo Firme
Yahritza Y Su Esencia (Winner)
FAVORITE LATIN ALBUM
Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti (Winner)
Farruko – La 167
J Balvin – Jose
Rauw Alejandro -Vice Versa
Rosalía – Motomami
FAVORITE LATIN SONG
Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone – Me Porto Bonito
Becky G x Karol G – MAMIII
Karol G – Provenza
Rauw Alejandro – Todo de Ti
Sebastián Yatra – Dos Oruguitas (Winner)
FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST
Anne Wilson
for King & Country (Winner)
Katy Nichole
Matthew West
Phil Wickham
FAVORITE GOSPEL ARTIST
CeCe Winans
DOE
E. Dewey Smith
Maverick City Music
Tamela Mann (Winner)
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
ELVIS (Winner)
Encanto
Sing 2
Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4
Top Gun: Maverick
FAVORITE K-POP ARTIST
Blackpink
BTS (Winner)
Seventeen
Tomorrow X Together
Twice
FAVORITE R&B SONG
Beyoncé – Break My Soul
Muni Long – Hrs And Hrs
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – Smokin Out The Window”
SZA – I Hate U
Wizkid ft. Tems – Essence