| 13th Annual American Music Awards | |
| Runtime: | 180 min. |
| Producer: | Dick Clark Productions |
| Country: | United States |
| Network: | ABC |
| Venue: | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| Date: | January 27, 1986 |
| Host: | Diana Ross |
| Previous: | 1985 |
| Next: | 1987 |
The 13th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 27, 1986.
| Subcategory | Winner | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Pop/Rock Categories | ||
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | Bruce Springsteen | Phil Collins Prince |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist | Tina Turner | Whitney Houston Madonna |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Chicago | |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Album | Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen | |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Song | "The Power of Love" – Huey Lewis and the News | "Money for Nothing" – Dire Straits "Careless Whisper" – Wham! |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Video | "The Power of Love" – Huey Lewis and the News | |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Video Artist | Bruce Springsteen | Phil Collins Huey Lewis |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist | Pat Benatar | |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | Wham! | Eurythmics Tears for Fears |
| Soul/R&B Categories | ||
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist | Stevie Wonder | Prince Luther Vandross |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist | Aretha Franklin | Whitney Houston Diana Ross |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Kool & The Gang | New Edition Ready For The World |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Album | Emergency – Kool & The Gang | Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston The Night I Fell in Love – Luther Vandross |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Song | "You Give Good Love" – Whitney Houston | "Nightshift" – The Commodores "You Are My Lady" – Freddie Jackson |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Video | "Saving All My Love for You" – Whitney Houston | "Freeway of Love" – Aretha Franklin "Oh Sheila" – Ready For The World |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Video Artist | Stevie Wonder | Philip Bailey & Phil Collins Prince |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist | Aretha Franklin | Whitney Houston Sade |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | The Pointer Sisters | Ashford & Simpson Kool & The Gang |
| Country Categories | ||
| Favorite Country Male Artist | Willie Nelson | Lee Greenwood Hank Williams, Jr. |
| Favorite Country Female Artist | Crystal Gayle | Anne Murray Dolly Parton |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group | Alabama | The Judds The Oak Ridge Boys |
| Favorite Country Album | 40-Hour Week – Alabama | |
| Favorite Country Song | "Forgiving You Was Easy" – Willie Nelson | "There's No Way" – Alabama "Dixie Road" – Lee Greenwood |
| Favorite Country Video | "The Highwayman" – The Highwaymen | |
| Favorite Country Male Video Artist | Hank Williams, Jr. | Lee Greenwood Ricky Skaggs |
| Favorite Country Female Video Artist | Crystal Gayle | |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | The Highwayman | |
| Merit | ||
| Paul McCartney | ||
| Award of Appreciation[1] | ||
| Michael Jackson | ||
| Song of the Year | ||
| We Are the World |