Taylor Swift wins big at American Music Awards
Taylor Swift was the big winner at Sunday’s American Music Awards. The pop-country superstar dominated the night, winning five awards including the top prize of Artist of the Year. The late Michael Jackson garnered four posthumous awards, to bring his his total to a record-breaking, career-spanning 23 AMAs.
Swift, who accepted her awards via satellite from her London, England tour stop, also won Favorite Female Artists in three categories: Country, Pop/Rock and Adult-Contemporary Artist. Her album, Fearless, was named the Favorite Country Album.
Jackson was voted Favorite Male Artist in the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories. His only loss came to Swift in the Artist of the Year category. Jermaine Jackson, wearing one white rhinestone-studded glove, accepted his brother’s awards at the ceremony held at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre.
Other winners included Green Day, Black Eyed Peas, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Jay-Z, and Beyonce. The most surprsing result was in Breakthrough Artist Award, where rising country stars Gloriana upset Lady GaGa, Keri Hilson, and Kid Cudi. Whitney Houston was awarded the International Award of Excellence for her musical and philanthropic work. The complete list of winners is available below.
Janet Jackson kicked off the American Music Awards by performing a medley of her hits. The night progressed with a plethora of performances including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Whitnety Houston, Jennifer Lopez (who literally fell on her butt during the performance), Lady GaGa (who played a piano engulfed in flames in a glass case), and Eminem (who made a rare award-show appearance with help from 50 Cent). The show closed in controversial fashon thanks to “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert, who thrust a back-up dancer’s head into his crotch and then kissed a male keyboardist.
2009 American Music Award Winners
Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift
Pop/Rock – Favorite Male Artist
Michael Jackson
Pop/Rock – Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Pop/Rock – Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Pop/Rock – Favorite Album
Number Ones, Michael Jackson
Country – Favorite Male Artist
Keith Urban
Country – Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Country – Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Country – Favorite Album
Fearless, Taylor Swift
Rap/Hip-Hop – Favorite Male Artist
Jay-Z
Rap/Hip-Hop – Favorite Album
Blueprint 3, Jay-Z
Soul/R&B – Favorite Male Artist
Michael Jackson
Soul/R&B – Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Soul/R&B – Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Soul/R&B – Favorite Album
Number Ones, Michael Jackson
Soundtracks – Favorite Album
Twilight Soundtrack
Alternative Rock – Favorite Artist
Green Day
Adult Contemporary – Favorite Artist
Taylor Swift
Latin – Favorite Artist
Aventura
Contemporary Inspirational – Favorite Artist
Mary Mary
T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award
Gloriana
International Award of Excellence
Whitney Houston
