The Black Stars Who Shined at the American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special

The two-hour special featured a star-studded lineup and aired live on CBS on Sunday.

The American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special aired live from Los Angeles Sunday (Oct. 6). Hosted by legendary singer Smokey Robinson, the two-hour special served as a tribute to the past 50 years and featured show-stopping performances, touching artist interviews, iconic special guests, and exclusive highlights from Dick Clark Production’s archives, highlighting iconic moments that have defined the awards show and shaped pop culture.

Of course, the show wouldn’t be as dazzling without its myriad of performers, presenters, and special guests. And since you already know how we get down on this side of the internet, let’s take a look at some of our favorite Black stars who showed up and showed out!