Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson Take Top Honors at AMAs

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 23rd 2009 06:40AM

The King of Pop is still winning awards and setting records doing it. But while Michael Jackson won a record four posthumous awards, he couldn't beat Taylor Swift for top honors at Sunday night's American Music Awards. The 19-year-old was named the year's favorite artist, giving Jackson his only loss of the night, and giving her five trophies in all. "Music has never been ultimately about competition," she said as she accepted the top prize via satellite from London. "To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who we will miss and love forever, is an unimaginable honor."

Her album, "Fearless," won favorite country album. Jackson was voted favorite male artist in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. His 2003 greatest-hits album, "Number Ones," also won favorite album in both categories, bringing his career AMA total to 23, making him the most honored artist in AMA history.

Jackson's victories were among the highlights of the evening, which also featured an eye-popping performance by Lady Gaga, a special award for Whitney Houston and that jaw-dropping number from Adam Lambert, who traded in his "American Idol" image for sex, leather and chains Sunday.

On an elaborate set filled with stairs and platforms, Lambert fondled a female dancer, kissed an androgynous band mate and led two leather-clad men across the stage on leashes as he sang the title track from his new CD, "For Your Entertainment," out this week.

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AMAs Fashions

Rihanna walked the red carpet for the AMAs in this billowy number. Is she hiding a baby bump under all that dress?

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images for AMA

AMAs Red Carpet Fashions

Rihanna arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images for AMA

Singers David Archuleta and Jordin Sparks arrive at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Kevin Winter,Getty Images for AMA

Actress Miley Cirus arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Kevin Winter,Getty Images for AMA

Taylor Swift arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images for AMA

Pink arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for AMA

Christina Aguilera arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Actress Ashley Tisdale arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Frank Micelotta,Getty Images for AMA

Musician Alicia Keys arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

David Livingston,Getty Images for AMA

Kanye West arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, and Kimberly Wyatt arrives at the 2008 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Lady Gaga, wearing a "Alien"-inspired headdress and vest filled with lights, performed songs from her new album, "The Fame Monster," also due in stores this week. She used her microphone to break into a glass case where a grand piano stood. It caught fire when she sat down to play.

Whitney Houston made a resplendent return to the AMA stage with an elegant performance of "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." The 46-year-old entertainer also received the International Award of Excellence for her musical and philanthropic contributions. She dedicated the honor to her daughter, music mogul Clive Davis and "everybody who supported me."

Jackson's trophies were accepted by his brother Jermaine, who paid tribute to his late brother by wearing glittery white glove. He thanked "Allah for blessing my entire family" and named each of his brothers and sisters. He said the message of Michael, who died in June at age 50, is more important than any award.

"The message that Michael had will live on forever," he said. "He saw good in everyone and he wanted everyone to do good. He always started with love."

The American Music Awards honor the year's top-selling artists in eight popular genres, and fans voted for the winners online. But even more than awards, the AMAs are about performances, and more than a dozen of them filled Sunday's show. The Black Eyed Peas, voted favorite pop/rock band, energized the crowd when they performed two of the year's most popular hits: "I Got A Feeling" and "Boom Boom Pow."

Rihanna returned to the AMA stage, sporting blonde hair, a skintight, white peek-a-boo bodysuit and a tattoo down the front of her neck that read "Rated R," the name of her new album, out this week.

Janet Jackson opened the show with a medley of some of the biggest hits from her long career - all tracks that appear on her new greatest-hits collection, also called "Number Ones."

Alicia Keys and Jay-Z dueted on their ode to New York City. Shakira was flanked by a dozen dancers in tiny black bodysuits as she sang her new single. Kelly Clarkson performed a stripped down version of her hit "Already Gone," backed by a string quartet. Jennifer Lopez added a boxing motif to her dance-filled performance, but she slipped during a tricky move and landed on her bottom. Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong confessed backstage that the show left him star-struck. "When you see all the talent that's in the room" like Jay-Z and Lady Gaga, he said, "it's like holy moly, these are huge people." The band was voted favorite alternative artist. Other winners Sunday included Jay-Z, wife Beyonce, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts.

Tags: adam lambert, AdamLambert, amas, lady gaga, LadyGaga, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, rihanna, taylor swift, TaylorSwift

Comments

(47)

Tuesday 24 November

By Tell It Like It Is

Vote down Vote up Report this

To johanna,

I disagree. Jermaine is his loving brother, and I'm sure he misses Michael very much, as the entire Jackson clan does I'm sure. Joe Jackson has stated he misses his son. I'm sure he raised his family the best way he knew how. Please people, don't be angry with King Michael's family. Remember Janet stated to us King Michael is an icon, but to the Jacksons, he is family. I believe family are the keepers of one's legacy when they pass on. Jermaine has acknowledged the fans miss King Michael tremendously. I know the Jacksons will always love fans, and be forever grateful to us for our prayers,love, and support.LOL!!!

Monday 23 November

By Forever MJ

DOWN WITH TAYLOR SWIFT!!! She know damn well she didnt deserve that award. Regaurdless if he died or not Michael Jackson has done more for the world that Taylor could ever even dream about. Shes lucky Kanye wasnt there!!! MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE GREATEST ARTIST OF ALL TIME!!! ha

By winger

The 19-year-old was named the year's favorite artist, giving Jackson his only loss of the night, and giving her five trophies in all.

She won for best new artist. How could Jackson possibly win that award?

By seriously?

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

you have got to be kidding me..
taylor swift has ZERO talent.
the kid can't stay on pitch live to save her life.
how sad that "artists" like this are rising to the top.
also, how does her being pretty validate her "talent" in any possible way? wanna talk talent? lets talk about demi lovato. chick is 16 and can sing circles around swift. yet, taylor is getting awarded because she can sell whiny songs about getting broken up with.

ridiculous.

By Will

What a load of crap American Music Awards was! There was no real performers there. Couldn't understand a thing they was trying to sing. Taylor didn't deserve a award for lack of talent and intellegence to be there. Michel Jackson didn't deserve one because he is dead. His brother made it out to be his award anyway. It was my first time to watch the awards and it will be the last. What a load of crap................

By sweetcaje4333

what a load of crap what load of crap what a load of crap, what a typical liberal thing to say, lol.

By killkubota

Taylor Swift. Another minimally talented very pretty teen. Pop music used to be musical. Remember Earth Wind & Fire? How about Bonnie Rhaitt or Aretha or Diana Ross or Gladys Knight or Natalie Cole? Those ladies could sing and they were pretty easy on the eyes too. But for some reason, real musicianship has left the world of pop. Now, we get Taylor. No voice to speak of and nothing she sings is very musical or requires real musical talent to perform. But she sells records and the publicity machine puts her out there in a big way. But she's just another no talent pretty face. She won't last.

By texasstarfan

Taylors opening # at the CMA's was horrendous. Her next # she had fans singing with her to mask her off key singing. She only sounds good on CD which is on radio. Beyonce blows her away in Pop. Carrie blows her away in country. Gaga blew her away as artist of the year.
Taylor is part of the whole Twilight frenzy. By dating Taylor, she pulls all her fans and his fans voting for her. These kids dont know what in the heck an on key singing voice is. Taylor is talented-as a song writer/entertainer but vocalist no way.

By Charlie

J Lo and the rappers ? This is not music THIS IS TRASH JUNK NOT WORTHY OF BEING CALLED MUSIC

waa waaa waaa, do you libs ever stop whining

By Jane Davis

What was that horror from Adam Lambert?? I thought I had tuned in to MTV at 3 a.m. What a waste of talent. If he wants to make it in the business he better leave that trash behind closed doors. I turned it off after about 20-30 seconds. I don't care about his sexual preference but that was so degrading to himself and those of us who appreciate his talent.

By dg

I so agree...I also turned it off after 20 seconds. Is this really what people define as talent?? I don't understand why Lambert had a number and not Kris Allen. I guess ABC opted for the freak show rather than talent.

By pat

TAYLOR IS A MESS NOT A GOOD SINGER WHAT IS SHE DOING WINNING AWARDS SHE DOES NOT DESERVE THEM AT ALL

By AintUtopia

Did EVERY act at the AMA have to look like it was being performed by porn stars? Does someone have to look totally deviant to be cool these days? UGH! I thought the show was on the skanky side.

By szqz35

Way to go Taylor!!! You deserve every award you win. I love Taylor's music and songs and yes she can sing.

By EVE

PLEASE ARRANGE FOR FUTURE AWARDS TO BE ACCEPTED BY PRINCE OR PARIS JACKSON ON BEHALF OF THEIR DAD MJ. AS JERMAINE HIJACKS THE AWARDS. WAKE UP - IT'S NOT ABOUT JERMAINE, IT'S ABOUT MJ'S OUTSTANDING MUSIC.

To Eve,
C'mon sis! Jermaine is King Michael's brother,You didn't like Jackson Five? I find it touching Jermaine there to accept. Whenever Michael looked to his left, his brother Jermaine was there. Remember they are family,the preservers of King's legacy. Children too young,too traumatized to be on stage right now I would think.

By PollTaker66

So who was your favorite performer at AMAs? JLo or Lady Gaga? Or Adam Lambert? Or someone else amongst the 18 live performances? Please take a second to vote in the poll via link on my Twitter: Entertainment2u

thanks for voting!

By JSweet30

taylor swift sucks she can't sing at all there are plenty young singers who go unnoticed because they are not white

I think King Michael would have been VERY JUBILANT for Ms. Swift. Although I love Lady GaGa,I honestly think "You Belong With Me" is cute,the video too. Ms. Swift was very humble and realistic in her acceptance for Artist/Year. Very nice to hear Janet Jackson supports her. We know Michael Jackson will always be king, still no reason not to give credit when due. Congratulations Taylor Swift!

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