Kelly Clarkson and Pink open American Music Awards after sparkling red carpet

Singers Kelly Clarkson and Pink kicked off the 2017 American Music Awards by paying tribute to those affected this year by hurricanes, gun violence, hate crimes and other tragic events.

Before the pop stars sang R.E.M.’s Everybody Hurts on Sunday, actor Jamie Foxx said this year “we needed the power of music to help us escape the news of the day ... to help us heal”.

First responders stood behind the actor at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, earning loud applause from the audience.

“Together we can unite as a people and as a nation,” Foxx said.

Golden Globe-winning “black-ish” actress Tracee Ellis Ross is hosting the AMAs, which are being aired live on US television network ABC.

Ross’ mother, iconic entertainer Diana Ross, will be honoured later in the show with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other big stars are set to perform at the awards, including Lady Gaga, Nick Jonas, Selena Gomez and Imagine Dragons. But while the performers are evenly split between men and women, the nominees? Not so much.