Adam LampertThe American Music Awards had all the ingredients for success this year: Taylor Swift beating out a pop mogul for a major award, lots and lots of Michael Jackson shout-outs, a Whitney Houston comeback performance and both Lady Gaga and Rihanna wearing next to nothing.

The major shock of the evening was Taylor Swift’s award for Artist of the Year, snagging the posthumous nomination from the King of Pop himself.

“I just want to say that music has never been ultimately about competition,” Swift said in her acceptance speech via video from London, England. “To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who will be missed and loved forever, is an unimaginable honour.”

Swift won four other awards, of six nominations, including Pop/Rock Female Artist, Adult Contemporary Artist, Country Female Artist, and Favourite Country Album.

Jackson did pick up a few awards in the end, including Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist as well as Soul/R&B Male Artist, and set the record most American Music Awards won by any artist with a whopping 23 awards.

Jermain Jackson was present to accept the awards, and Janet performed the show’s opening number.

“We love you, Michael,” Jermaine Jackson said as he accepted one award. “It’s not just about winning the award; it’s mainly the message. The message Michael had will live on forever and that’s that he saw good in everyone.”

Whitney Houston’s performance was another emotional moment, receiving a standing ovation for her rendition of “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength”. Samuel L. Jackson presented Houston with the International Artist Award of Excellence.

As per usual, Lady Gaga’s performance made a splash. Sporting a vulcan-inspired headdress and a vest filled with lights, Gaga burst on stage, shattering the class case around a grand piano with her microphone. When she sat down to perform a medley of songs from her new album, The Monster Show, the piano burst into flames.

Rihanna didn’t need to do more than strut around on stage partially naked to garner as much of  a reaction. Performing her new singles from Rated R, “Wait Your Turn” and “Hard” ft. Young Jeezy, Rihanna wore nothing more than a body suit made of strips of white fabric and heeled white leather boots. The performance kept with the theme of the morbid videos she has released lately, Rihanna started her performance with a video of a masked woman on a medical table being electrocuted to life.

Adam Lambert, the most recent American Idol winner, closed the show with his performance of “For Your Entertainment” in which he shoved a male dancer’s face into his crotch.

The full list of winners at the 37th Annual American Music Awards:

  • Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift
  • Pop-Rock (Male): Michael Jackson
  • Pop-Rock (Female): Taylor Swift
  • Pop-Rock (Band, duo, group): Black Eyed Peas
  • Pop-Rock (Album): Michael Jackson Number Ones
  • Soul-R&B (Male): Michael Jackson
  • Soul-R&B (Female): Beyonce
  • Soul-R&B (Band, duo, group): Black Eyed Peas
  • Soul-R&B (Album): Michael Jackson Number Ones
  • Rap-Hip-Hop (Artist): Jay-Z
  • Rap-Hip-Hop (Album): Jay-Z Blueprint 3
  • Country (Male): Keith Urban
  • Country (Female): Taylor Swift
  • Country (Band, duo, group): Rascal Flatts
  • Country (Album): Taylor Swift Fearless
  • Adult Contemporary: Taylor Swift
  • Alternative Rock: Green Day
  • Latin: Aventura
  • Contemporary Inspirational: Mary Mary
  • Soundtrack Album: Twilight Soundtrack
  • T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award: Gloriana
  • International Award of Excellence: Whitney Houston






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