| Runtime: | 180 min. |
| Location: | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| Date: | January 28, 1991 |
| Most Awards: | MC Hammer (5) |
| Most Nominations: | MC Hammer (7) |
| Previous: | 1990 |
| Next: | 1992 |
The 18th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 28, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. The awards recognized the most popular artists and albums from the year 1990.
| Artist(s) | Song(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| MC Hammer | "Here Comes The Hammer" | |
| Mariah Carey | "Someday" | |
| New Kids on the Block Flavor Flav | "Games" | |
| Clint Black | "Put Yourself in My Shoes" | |
| Gloria Estefan | "Coming Out of the Dark" | |
| Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" | |
| George Strait Garth Brooks Travis Tritt Clint Black The Kentucky Headhunters Lorrie Morgan Alan Jackson Larry Gatlin Patty Loveless Roger Miller | Tribute to Merle Haggard: "If We Make It Through December" (Strait) "Mama Tried" (Brooks) "Today I Started Loving You Again" (Tritt) "Okie from Muskogee" | |
| Poison | "Unskinny Bop" | |
| Wilson Phillips | Medley: "Hold On" "Release Me" "Impulsive" "You're in Love" | |
| Reba McEntire | "Fancy" | |
| Bell Biv DeVoe | "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?" | |
| INXS | "Disappear" |