Michael Jackson won a record four posthumous awards, but Taylor Swift took home the top honors at the American Music Awards on Sunday night.
After sweeping the Country Music Association Awards earlier this month, Swift won a leading three AMAs, including Favorite Artist of the Year, despite not attending the ceremony.
The 19-year-old gave her acceptance speech via satellite and said it was an "unimaginable honor" to be "even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson."
In addition to Artist of the Year, she won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Adult-Contemporary Artist, Favorite Country Album for Fearless and Favorite Country Female Artist.
Jackson won Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Vocalist and Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album for his 2003 greatest hits album, 'Number Ones'. The awards moved up his career AMA total to 23, making him the most honored artist in AMA history.
"We love you, Michael," said Jermaine Jackson, who accepted the honor on his brother's behalf. "It's not just about the winnings, the awards, it's mainly the message. The message that Michael had will live on forever...and he saw good in everyone and he wanted them to do good. To start with love and let's love each other."
Sister Janet Jackson [photos] opened the show with a choreographed-heavy medley of her hits. But the standing ovation for her turned into surprise by the end of the show, when 'American Idol' runner-up Adam Lambert took the stage for an S&M-themed performance that included fondling a female dancer, gyrating against his dancers and kissing a male band member.
Michael Jackson won a record four posthumous awards, but Taylor Swift took home the top honors at the American Music Awards on Sunday night.
