Following a turbulent few weeks with his estranged girlfriend Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber's mum was the only woman he wanted by his side as he triumphed at this year's American Music Awards. The pop sensation's proud parent Pattie Mallette watched as her son accepted the night's top prizes including artist of the year, favorite pop/rock artist and favorite pop/rock album for Believe.
Looking into her eyes, Justin said: "I wanted to thank you for always believing in me". He admitted it was "hard growing up with everyone watching me" and asked his fans to continue to support him, promising longevity by saying he was "going to be here for a very long time." A storming set with Nicki Minaj was the icing on the cake of the 18-year-old's big night. He and Nicki performed their thumping duet Beauty And A Beat – a song which name checks Justin's sweetheart Selena. It was recently reported that the heartthrob and his actress girlfriend had ended their relationship after a tiff. However, the couple were seen having a heart-to-heart over dinner shortly before the awards ceremony, prompting speculation the youngsters will reconcile.
While 'Bieber fever' dominated the annual music extravaganza, there was still scope for other stars to shine. Taylor Swift won her fifth consecutive award for favourite country female artist. "This is unreal," she said onstage. "I want to thank the fans. You guys are the ones who voted on this." She later gave a masquerade-themed performance of the song, I Knew You Were Trouble. RnB star Usher kicked off the three-hour show with a medley of songs. He set a blistering pace for the 18 other artists who took to the stage. Pink provided a standout set, performing her hit Try with a powerful acrobatic ballet performance. In the end though, the night belonged to Justin Bieber, whose profile continues to grow at a phenomenal rate.
The star has released three hugely popular albums in the last two years, leading him to be named by Forbes magazine as the third most powerful celebrity in the world. He also has over 30 million followers on Twitter, making him the second most 'followed' person in the world behind fellow musician Lady Gaga.