American Music Awards of 1989

Last updated
16th Annual American Music Awards
DateJanuary 30, 1989
Country United States
Hosted by Anita Baker
Debbie Gibson
Kenny Rogers
Rod Stewart
First awarded1973
Television/radio coverage
Network ABC
Produced by Dick Clark Productions
  1988  · American Music Awards ·  1990  

The 16th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 30, 1989.

Winners and nominees

SubcategoryWinnerNominees
Pop/Rock Category
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist George Michael Michael Jackson
Steve Winwood
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist Whitney Houston Tracy Chapman
Debbie Gibson
Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine Def Leppard
Van Halen
Favorite Pop/Rock Album Dirty Dancing Soundtrack Hysteria - Def Leppard
Faith - George Michael
Favorite Pop/Rock Song "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses "Never Gonna Give You Up" - Rick Astley
"Roll With It" - Steve Winwood
Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist Tracy Chapman Rick Astley
Taylor Dayne
Soul/R&B Category
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist George Michael Bobby Brown
Michael Jackson
Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist Whitney Houston Natalie Cole
Sade
Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Gladys Knight & The Pips New Edition
Salt-N-Pepa
Favorite Soul/R&B Album Faith - George Michael All Our Love - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Make It Last Forever - Keith Sweat
Favorite Soul/R&B Song "Nice 'N' Slow" - Freddie Jackson "Off on Your Own (Girl)" - Al B. Sure!
"Girlfriend" - Pebbles
Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist Al B. Sure! Tony! Toni! Tone!
Karyn White
Country Category
Favorite Country Male Artist Randy Travis George Strait
Hank Williams, Jr.
Favorite Country Female Artist Reba McEntire Rosanne Cash
Tanya Tucker
Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Alabama The Judds
The Oak Ridge Boys
Favorite Country Album Always & Forever - Randy Travis If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' - George Strait
Wild-Eyed Dream - Ricky Van Shelton
Favorite Country Song "I Told You So" - Randy Travis "Fallin' Again" - Alabama
"Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" - Kathy Mattea
Favorite Country New Artist Patty Loveless Larry Boone
The McCarters
Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Category
Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist Def Leppard Guns N' Roses
Van Halen
Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album Hysteria - Def Leppard "Appetite for Destruction" - Guns N' Roses
"OU812" - Van Halen
Rap/Hip-Hop Category
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Run-D.M.C.
Salt-N-Pepa
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" - Public Enemy
"Tougher Than Leather" - Run-D.M.C.
Merit
Willie Nelson
Special Achievement Award
Michael Jackson

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