AMAs '09: Best/Worst Red Carpet Style

We grade the American Music Awards attendee looks that were right on pitch (Carrie! Mary J!) and the ones that fell flat (sorry, Kelly!)
By Meeta Agrawal
Updated November 23, 2009 at 03:00 AM EST

1 of 12

Carrie Underwood

Rick Rowell/ABC

Short and sweet with just a touch of sass, the country crooner's flirty number by Theia hits all the right notes. Grade: A

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2 of 12

Mary J. Blige

Rick Rowell/ABC

Leaving the glitz to the kids, Mary looked every inch the Queen in a toned-down and knotted-up column gown. Grade: A

3 of 12

Fergie

Rick Rowell/ABC

The Black Eyed Peas singer takes the hottest trends of the season — studding and zippering — and makes them red-carpet worthy in a surprisingly refined Armani Prive gown. Grade: A-

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4 of 12

Sofia Vergara

Danny Moloshok/Reuters/Landov

We're not sure what the Modern Family star was doing at the American Music Awards, but she certainly looked stunning doing it. Grade: A-

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5 of 12

Selena Gomez

Rick Rowell/ABC

The elegant draping keeps Selena's silver dress from crossing over into disco ball territory. Grade: B

6 of 12

Rihanna

Danny Moloshok/Reuters/Landov

In the riskiest look to cross the night's red carpet, RiRi brought old Hollywood glamour (the black-and-white motif and dramatic volume) and a touch of modern edge (the laser-cut florals) in this architectural Marchesa. Unfortunately she also brought white shoes. Grade: B-

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7 of 12

Leona Lewis

Rick Rowell/ABC

Oh no, did the British singer wind up with another pop diva's luggage by mistake? Between the pointed neckline and the peplum skirt this dress is more Lady Gaga than the usually ladylike Lewis. Grade: C

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8 of 12

Alicia Keys

Rick Rowell/ABC

The cobalt color and crystal-encrusted bodice of the singer's gown were headed in the right direction, but the matchy-matchy shoes and too-short hemline ultimately derailed this look. Grade: C-

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9 of 12

Nicole Kidman

Chris Polk/AMA2009/Getty Images for DCP

Two tones may be good in music, but mixing grey lace and fleshtoned candycane striping isn't the stuff that beautiful fashion is made of. Grade: C-

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Kelly Clarkson

Chris Pizzello/AP Images

There's elegant beading, and then there's unfortunate Bedazzling. The badly patterned rhinestones on this already frumpy dress didn't do the original Idol any favors. Grade: D+

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11 of 12

Colbie Caillat

Rick Rowell/ABC

We'd love this ruffled number... if the singer had just cut it off at the knees. Can the end of the decade also mean the end of the mullet dress, please? Grade: D

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12 of 12

Shakira

Red Carpet: Rick Rowell/ABC; Stage: Kevin Winter/AMA2009/Getty Images for DCP

The Colombian singer should have taken the traffic-light-yellow of her Versace dress as a signal to proceed with caution before picking it for the red carpet. Grade: D

Much more successful: the metallic tiled mini she changed into for her onstage performance. Grade: B+

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