Taylor Swift made history several times over at the 2019 American Music Awards. She was presented the honorary prize for Artist of the Decade during the telecast, but she also took home Artist of the Year and Favorite Pop/Rock Album (“Lover”), which pushed her ahead of Michael Jackson‘s all-time record for the most AMAs in history. Check out the complete list of winners here.
Swift had 23 career AMAs going into tonight’s event. Jackson won 24, so those two victories were all it took for Swift to set a new benchmark. But that wasn’t all. Swift also won all her nominations that weren’t presented during the telecast: Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Music Video for “You Need to Calm Down.”
Just winning Artist of the Year was historic for Swift since it was her fifth victory, extending a record she already held for the most wins in that race. To put that in perspective, the next biggest winners in the category are Justin Bieber and One Direction, who only won the top prize twice each.
But Swift wasn’t the only big winner. Awards were handed out across many genres during the telecast, which was hosted by Ciara and held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Newcomer Billie Eilish won the first two AMAs of her career: Favorite Alternative Artist and New Artist of the Year, the latter of which has gone to the likes of Carrie Underwood, Ariana Grande and Camila Cabello in years past.
Speaking of Underwood and Cabello, both of them were winners too. Underwood took home the awards for Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for “Cry Pretty,” and she made a point to thank the music fans who vote for these awards. At the recent Country Music Association Awards, she was shut out. Meanwhile, Cabello took home Collaboration of the Year for “Senorita” with Sam Mendes, following another provocative performance of that romantic duet.
The K-pop band BTS also took home multiple awards. They were announced as the winners of Favorite Pop/Rock Duo or Group and Tour of the Year. They also claimed Favorite Social Artist for the second year in a row, so they have never lost at the AMAs. Meanwhile, the American country hit-makers Dan and Shay received Favorite Country Duo or Group and Favorite Country Song for “Speechless.”
Who were your favorite winners? Do you agree with the AMAs that Swift is the artist of the decade?
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