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)

Wednesday 25 November

By ryan

Vote down Vote up Report this

congrats taylor... i am so happy she won the ama.. all the hard works really paid off..and she is a talented young girl with a lovely voice... u go taylor

Sunday 29 November

By Tell It Like It Is

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

To barracudared

No, a simple "tribute" would not suffice. Michael Jackson is the King Of Pop, the greatest entertainer of all time. He merits accolade on top of accolade. He was no freak, as you put it. His death is a tragic one ,at the hand of someone else. King Michael is loved by millions. The music industry, and fans worldwide are in mourning. Not to mention his family, who has suffered the greatest loss of all. Fans such as myself who have loved this great man all their lives want his legacy kept alive. He is deserving of any and every award given. King Michael's influence is too prevalent to lend to his name just merely being "mentioned". Furthermore, love of God, our planet, and Michael Jackson are separate entities entirely.

Monday 07 December

By J.R.

O.K.

By Texas

HE IS NO KING HE IS NO ICON.THERE ONLY ONE KING AMD THAT IS GOD.

If You don't like that well take it up with god.

If you don't like that well take that up with the lord.

Friday 19 February

By 25

I think Talor Swift should be all over on the internet!

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