Taylor Swift wins multiple AMA Show
|
|
Los Angeles, California (CNN) — Rihanna took the red carpet and stage by storm Sunday night, nine months after she was severely beaten by boyfriend Chris Brown on the eve of the Grammys.
“I’m really happy right now,” Rihanna told CNN as she arrived at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre for the 37th annual American Music Awards show.
While she was not nominated for an award Sunday, Rihanna used the show to promote “Rated R,” her fourth album, which is set for release Monday.
As for the awards, it was a big night for country and pop crossover sensation Taylor Swift with five and the late pop star Michael Jackson with four.
Michael Jackson’s oldest brother, Jermaine, took the stage to accept the late pop star’s four awards. Jackson won favorite male soul/rhythm and blues artist and favorite pop or rock male artist. He also won favorite pop/rock album and favorite soul/R&B album for his “Number Ones.”
Jermaine Jackson wore a single sequined glove in honor of his brother. It was the same glove he wore at his brother’s memorial service in July and funeral in August, he told CNN backstage. “I’ll always keep it,” he said.
He was asked his for his opinion about the auction this weekend that fetched $420,000 for the famous rhinestone-studded glove from a buyer in Hong Kong, China. Jackson wore the glove at a 1983 performance during “Motown 25,” an NBC special where he debuted his revolutionary moonwalk.
“That’s sad,” Jermaine Jackson said. “They shouldn’t do that.”
Michael Jackson lost out to Swift for artist of the year. Swift accepted the honor — one of five she won Sunday — from London, England.
“Music has never been, ultimately, about competition and to even be mentioned in the category with Michael Jackson is an unimaginable honor,” Swift said.
Swift also won favorite pop/rock female artist; favorite adult contemporary artist; favorite country female artist; and favorite country album (“Fearless”).
Janet Jackson opened the show with a medley of her greatest hits, all from her recently released compilation, “Janet: Number Ones.”
Adam Lambert, last season’s “American Idol” runner-up, closed the three hour telecast with a sexually charged choreography that caused immediate buzz. Lambert, who is openly gay, shared a kiss with a keyboard player on stage.
The most unusual performance may have been by Lady Gaga, who used a microphone stand to break into a large glass box to get to a piano, which began burning as she played.
The most-out-of-sync honor may be for Jennifer Lopez, whose lips did not quite match her words as she danced in a boxing ring with six male dancers. To make matters worse, Lopez fell during the dance.
Whitney Houston’s appearance may have been the most emotional. Her friends shed tears as Houston received a standing ovation from the AMA audience after her forceful delivery of her newest song, “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.”
Actor Samuel L. Jackson then presented Houston, who is in the midst of a career comeback, with an AMA international award of excellence.
Beyonce, who did not attend the show, won the favorite female soul/rhythm and blues artist, beating out Keyshia Cole and Keri Hilson.
“I don’t expect to win, to be honest,” Hilson told CNN on the red carpet. “I’m just happy to be here.” Country band Gloriana said they were surprised to win the breakthrough artist award, which member Mike Gossin said he expected to go to Lady Gaga.
It shows that America “has a place in its heart for a band of four kids who just studied music all their lives,” Gossin said.
Winners are determined by online fan voting.
Some of the other AMA winners:
– Keith Urban for favorite country male artist.
– Jay-Z for favorite rap/hip-hop male artist and favorite rap/hip-hop album (“The Blueprint 3″).
– Rascal Flatts for favorite country band.
– Black Eyed Peas for favorite pop or rock group and favorite soul/R&B group.
source: cnn.com
