2008 American Music Awards

Taylor Swift on the red carpet

With 19 performances featuring stars like Kanye West, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé, it was easy to forget that the 2008 American Music Awards was actually about handing out awards—in 21 categories, based on votes cast by actual music fans. Metromix visited the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles to hang out on the red carpet, snap some photos and chat with some of this year's nominees, performers, presenters and hangers-on. Along the way, we got invited bowling by Three 6 Mafia, found out which Disney star listens to MGMT, and learned of Taylor Swift's secret hip-hop ambitions.—Andy Hermann, Metromix