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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Justin Timberlake stayed classy in a sharp blue suit. A shocked Rihanna accepted an icon award at the ripe old age of 25. And Lady Gaga danced atop the president's desk. These were just a few of the televised moments not to be missed at the American Music Awards on Sunday night. Backstage, the moments continued as a rock legend bonded with an "American Idol" alum and two pop heartthrobs shared a rare exchange in a stairwell. The Associated Press goes behind the scenes at the AMAs:
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE CHARMS HARRY STYLES
Always the gentleman, favorite male artist winner Justin Timberlake stopped One Direction singer Harry Styles when passing him in a backstage stairwell to apologize for surging past the fellow pop star earlier in the evening. "Hey man, I didn't mean to bum-rush you before I went on," Timberlake said, while shaking Styles' hand. Styles, looking a little shocked, nodded. "Well, I just wanted to say hi," Timberlake continued before heading down the stairs and back to his seat.
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THE AFFABLE GROHL
Taking a bite out of a bite-size sandwich that wife Jordyn Blum brought to him, Foo Fighter's frontman David Grohl said he had hoped he was going to bite into a burger. His disappointment was quickly deferred as a young fan approached and told Grohl he'd learned to play a few Foo Fighters songs in order to perform them at school. "That's awesome!" Grohl said, before adding, "My daughter is learning to play the flute right now!" Shortly after, Grohl put his arms around his wife and tune into Lady Gaga's performance of "Do What U Want" with R. Kelly. Hamburger forgotten.
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AN AMERICAN IDOL ALUM SCHOOLS A ROCK LEGEND
As Luke Bryan won the top country male artist award, Dave Grohl acknowledged to fellow rocker Chris Daughtry, "I know nothing about country. Who's big in the country world?" Daughtry swiftly got Grohl up to speed: "Well this guy," said Daughtry, nodding to the big screen TV displaying the live feed of Bryan accepting his award. "And Florida Georgia Line." Later, Daughtry asked Grohl to take a picture with him. Who could blame him?
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DANCER TO THE RESCUE
Chivalrous "Dancing With the Stars" pro Maxim Chmerkovskiy carried an injured dancer backstage following their performance during the Jennifer Lopez tribute to Celia Cruz. Sitting her down gently on a couch in the VIP lounge, Chmerkovskiy knelt down to attend to the dancer, who grimaced in pain over her hurt foot. Then, unbuttoning and airing out his sweat-soaked, hot pink dress shirt, Chmerkovskiy put his pristine abs on full display. Whether this cheered the patient was unknown. The moment was soon interrupted by paramedics rolling in a stretcher.
___Follow AP Film Writer Jessica Herndon on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/SomeKind
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