Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- Justin Bieber dragged his date on stage with him to accept the American Music Awards artist of the year honor Sunday night . It was his mom . `` I want to thank you for just always believing in me , '' the 18-year-old singer said , looking into the eyes of his mother , Pattie Mallette . Bieber was the biggest winner at the 40th annual American Music Awards , winning artist of the year , favorite pop/rock artist and favorite pop/rock album . Carly Rae Jepsen , who won new artist of the year , introduced Bieber as the `` current generation 's biggest superstar . '' Bieber used one of his acceptance speeches to address `` all the haters who thought that , you know , that maybe I was just here for one or two years . '' `` I feel like I 'm going to be here for a very long time , '' he said . Missing from the three-hour show in Los Angeles ' Nokia Theater was its originator Dick Clark , who was remembered in a musical tribute performed by Stevie Wonder . Clark , known as `` America 's oldest teenager '' died April 18 at the age of 82 . `` This show , on its 40th anniversary , still reflects Dick 's original vision , '' host Ryan Seacrest , a Clark protÃ©gÃ© , told the audience . `` Bring the top artists on the planet together on an equal stage and then let the music speak for itself . '' It was , perhaps , that inspiration that produced one of the show 's most energetic moments : South Korean rapper Psy 's collaboration with MC Hammer in a dance medley to a mash-up of Psy 's online viral hit `` Gangnam Style '' and Hammer 's 1991 sensation `` Too Legit to Quit . '' `` That was so awesome , '' Psy told CNN backstage after the show . `` We experienced miracle tonight . '' Hammer , who triggered a dance craze in the early 1990s , said he and Psy are `` kindred spirits '' and they may work together again . `` He 's got the whole world dancing , '' he said , comparing Psy to James Brown , Michael Jackson and himself . Nicki Minaj , who performed twice , walked away with two honors , including favorite rap/hip hop artist and favorite rap/hip hop album . `` Man , I been did dat , '' Minaj said as she accepted the artist award , referencing her win in the same category last year . `` Man , I been popped out . '' Carrie Underwood 's `` Blown Away '' was chosen favorite country album . All four albums Underwood has released have won the honor . `` I could n't love my life anymore than I do right now , '' she said . Luke Bryan , who won favorite country male artist , used his first AMA acceptance speech to thank his sons `` Tater Bug and Bobo . '' Taylor Swift won favorite country music female artist , her 11th AMA trophy . Electronic dance music , known as EDM , was added as a category this year . The first award was bestowed on David Guetta . Other winners included Katy Perry for favorite pop/rock female artist ; Maroon 5 for favorite pop/rock band , duo or group ; Lady Antebellum for favorite country music band , duo or group ; Usher for favorite soul/R & B male artist ; Beyonce for favorite soul/R & B female artist ; Rihanna for favorite soul/R & B album ; Linkin Park for favorite alternative rock artist ; Adele for favorite adult contemporary artist ; Shakira for favorite latin music artist ; and tobyMac for favorite contemporary inspirational artist . Among the 18 performances , one of the more noteworthy was Pink 's delivery of `` Try , '' a song about domestic abuse , as an acrobatic ballet . CNN 's Denise Quan contributed to this report .
` ` I feel like I ' m going to be here for a very long time , '' Justin Bieber tells the audience . Korea 's Kim performs with MC Hammer for a dance medley . ` ` Man , I been did dat , '' Nicki French says after second consecutive win for favorite rap / hip hop artist . Country music 's Luke Bryan introduces sons ` ` Tater ' and Bobo '' during speech .