Selena Gomez makes post-rehab debut

Selena Gomez returned to the spotlight at the American Music Awards on Sunday.

Gomez, 24, accepted the award for favorite pop/rock artist in her first public appearance since canceling her Revival world tour in August.

“In 2014, this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically 100 percent honest with all of you,” Gomez said, recalling her tearful performance of “The Heart Wants What It Wants.”

“I think it’s safe to say most of you know my life whether I liked it or not, and I had to stop, because I had everything — and I was absolutely broken inside,” she said. “I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.”

The “Hands to Myself” singer added, “I’m not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore … if you are broken, you do not have to stay broken … That’s one thing you should know about me: I care about people. And this is for you.”

Gomez previously resurfaced in October in Tennessee, where she was rumored to be in rehab for depression, panic attacks and anxiety related to her lupus.