Who received the Artist of the Century award at the 2002 American Music Awards?

Michael Jackson received the Artist of the Century award at the 2002 American Music Awards.

The honor recognized Jackson’s extraordinary influence and impact on popular music. It was presented at the 29th American Music Awards, held on January 9, 2002, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. That ceremony primarily honored music released during 2001, but the special award looked across Jackson’s broader career.

The title can be confused with the AMAs’ Artist of the Decade designations, which were awarded through a 2000 poll for earlier decades. In that poll, Jackson was named Artist of the 1980s, whereas the 2002 presentation gave him the broader Artist of the Century distinction. Jackson was also one of the most decorated artists in AMA history, with major wins in pop, soul/R&B, and other categories.