It is from our very own Bakersfield that one of the most iconic genres of country music, the Bakersfield Sound, was born. So perhaps it’s no surprise to us that some of these 2020 American Music Awards winners have connections to our neck of the woods.
Dan + Shay took home three American Music Awards Sunday night for Favorite Country Song, Favorite Country Duo and Collaboration of the Year, but they still made time to pay homage to Bakersfield and our musical roots.
“We’re huge fans of Buck Owens, and the history behind Bakersfield is incredible,” Dan + Shay’s Shay Mooney said.
We took the duo back to last year when Billboard reported that they dethroned Bakersfield Sound founding father, Buck Owens for having the second longest streak of the top first and second spots on the Hot Country Song chart. When asked about how Buck Owens and the forefathers of country music paved the way for them as country stars, Dan + Shay said:
“They did everything for us. Every single time they pushed the envelope a little bit. And then for us to be able to come in and to have a new sound, just like a lot of people did before us...Because music is always evolving and changing in a different way,” Mooney said. “At the core of it, it’s telling stories: Country music is that. It’s what we fell in love with and what we’re trying to do.” Dan + Shay’s Dan Smyers’ added: “Shout out to our friends at the Crystal Palace! You guys are amazing.”
Dan + Shay were not the only artists to win big this American Music Awards season.
Incumbent AMAs Artist of the Year, Taylor Swift has kept her reign of the title for now a third year in a row. This is in addition to taking home a total of three 2020 AMAs.
The Weeknd received eight nominations and took home AMAs for Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Album and Favorite Song in the R&B/Soul genre.
Doja Cat has had a huge breakout year as an artist, including a song in the AMAs win for favorite soundtrack, Birds of Prey, and has scored two AMAs for Favorite New Artist and Favorite Female Artist in the R&B/Soul genre.
The American Music awards are fan-voted, meaning the winners of the night were chosen directly from those listening.
