But Selena Gomez, 27, saved a special treat for her fans shortly after her performance: a tattoo reveal.
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The actress and singer shared a photo of the new ink with her 162 million Instagram followers.
Selena's post featured a collage of Polaroid snapshots, and the bottom–left image appeared to show her hiking up a white dress to reveal a tattoo drawn high up on her thigh.
The black and white image featured a pair of hands in prayer with a rosary dangling down.
The caption didn't specify when Selena got the new tattoo, but a fan account previously reported she'd gotten it over the weekend.
She tagged Bang Bang Tattoo in New York City, where she got the new ink.
'AMAs day.. more to come..' she teased her fans.
The post also featured a photo of Selena with her choreographer Charm La'Donna, who helped put together the performance that opened the ceremony.
A collage posted by Bang Bang Tattoo showed photos of Selena on the table as she got the new ink.
The pop star had on a two-tone blue and beige skirt and a black sweater.
The poster had scribbled over the photos to obscure Selena's nether regions while her clothing was rolled up.
'Thank you for the trust,' they captioned the post.
Selena made a triumphant return to the award show, her first appearance at the AMAs since 2017 and her first live TV performance in two years.
She started the show off on a slower note with her heartbreak ballad Lose You To Love Me, which she has previously stated was about her ex Justin Bieber.
The performance mimicked the song's black and white video with her long black gown.
She stood still at the microphone stand and let her song carry the room before breaking into a high-energy rendition of her other new single, Look At Her Now.
She stripped down to the reflective Versace dress and a pair of thigh-high black boots.
Selena's new tattoo could just barely be seen on her thigh under the high-cut dress, though her pantyhose made it difficult to distinguish.
Some viewers criticized the Spring Breakers star on social media for what they perceived to be a morose and lackluster show opener with the leisurely paced ballad.
Other criticized her singing and suggested she might not have been ready for her returning to the stage after two years away.
Selena's loyal fans also chimed in and defended the hiccups as an understandable case of nerves.
Selena's bff Taylor Swift didn't seem to have any problem with the performance as she sang along and danced to Look At Her Now from the audience, as did a similarly impressed Halsey.
Selena lit up the red carpet prior to the show in a key lime–colored minidress which directed attention to her chest and fit legs.
After performing, she rocked a complementary outfit with a silky yellow top over an intriguing sheer skirt with green and pink embroidery.
She spiced up the already eye-catching look with a pair of super pointy green heels with jeweled butterflies decorating them.
