From Demi Lovato cracking jokes on right counting of votes to Jennifer Lopez winning the People’s Icon award, the 2020 edition of E! People’s Choice Awards honoured artists across music, movies, TV, and pop culture. Being the only award show voted on by the people, the winners shared messages of inspiration amid a year that has been dominated by COVID-19 and contentious presidential election.

The show was aired live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica with Demi Lovato taking up the role of host. In lieu of a live audience, Lovato walked out onstage surrounded by video screens of people watching at home, reports Hollywoodreporter.com.

She also noted that the awards are voted on by the fans and joked, in a reference to the recent presidential election: “Don’t worry, we made sure to count every vote in Pennsylvania first.” Joking about the pandemic, she added that “this year has been the longest three years of my life.”

Tiffany Haddish was named female movie star of 2020 for her performance in ‘Like a Boss’.

The actress noted the importance of loving one’s self — “I like me and that’s what I’m rolling with; if you love me, fantastic” — and then gave a “shoutout to anyone going through depression or stress this year” along with “all the people in Africa struggling this year.”

Mandy Moore received the drama TV star of the year for ‘This Is Us’ while Blake Shelton was named country artist of 2020.

Moore and Shelton gave shoutouts to their significant others and the former also encouraged people to practice social distancing and “be kind to one another.”

Meanwhile, The Ellen DeGeneres Show was named best daytime talk show despite recent controversy over the workplace culture, including accusations of racism, intimidation, unjust termination, and an overall toxic work culture that has allegedly been perpetuated by the show’s top producers, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Sofía Vergara won the best comedy TV star for ‘Modern Family’ and she said that the win was bittersweet since it’s the last award she is eligible to win for the show, which ended its 11-season run earlier this year. She also encouraged people to continue wearing masks amid the pandemic “even though it’s hot.”

Ellen Pompeo was named female TV star of the year for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Jennifer Lopez was honored with the People’s Icon Award, Tyler Perry accepted the People’s Champion of 2020 Award, and Tracee Ellis Ross was presented with the Fashion Icon Award.

“This year was a great leveler. It showed us what mattered and what didn’t, and for me, it reinforced what matters the most: people. All of us. Together. Helping each other. Loving each other. Being kind to each other. And the importance of that connection, the human touch, and I realize it’s what I strive for in everything I do — to reach people, to touch people. I believe it’s what we all want, those shared experiences to know we are not alone…,” Lopez said in her speech.

Performers during the award function included Justin Bieber, who sang “Lonely” and “Holy,” and Chloe x Halle.

The show also paid tribute to local, real-life heroes around the country (the “People’s Heroes of 2020”), spotlighting them with short video clips.