Taylor Swift Sweeps, Jennifer Lopez Sparkles At 2011 American Music Awards

Idolator Staff | November 20, 2011 8:44 pm

Taylor Swift, Adele, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez were the big winners at the 2011 American Music Awards Sunday night, a performance-heavy evening dominated by onstage collaborations by the year’s highest charting artists. Read our full recap and get the complete list of winners after the jump.

Taylor Swift picked up three of the biggest awards of the night, including Artist of the Year, Favorite Country Music Album for her third full-length release Speak Now and Favorite Country Female Artist for the fourth straight year. Likewise, Adele, who wasn’t present due to her recent throat surgery, nabbed three awards, for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.

Lopez, who nabbed the award for Favorite Latin Music Artist, broke out her Billboard chart-topping RedOne ode-to-love “Papi” in a rhinestone-covered nude body suit before being joined on stage by fellow Favorite Latin Music Artist nominee Pitbull for their banger “On The Floor.” Later, Lopez lent her voice to the hook of will.I.am’s new solo track “THE (The Hardest Ever)” in a futuristic black-light dance number that featured video of Mick Jagger performing a portion of the song.

There was more Mick to be had, at least in spirit, when Maroon 5 — who took home the first award of the night, Favorite Rock/Pop Band, Duo or Group — took the stage alongside Christina Aguilera to perform the undisputed song of summer (and Mom favorite) “Moves Like Jagger.” Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine then crossed the stage to meet Travie McCoy and Gym Class Heroes, who launched into their Benny Blanco/RoboPop single, “Stereo Hearts.”

But GCH wasn’t the only artist to make use of a stereo last night. To open the show, Nicki Minaj showed off her most famous, uh, assets in a pair of silver boombox pants. The Young Money femcee plugged herself into David Guetta’s turntable stage for a tech-savvy performance of “Turn Me On” and “Super Bass” as Swift and Selena Gomez rapped along from their seats. Soon after, Nicki won Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist (thanking superfan Swift in her acceptance speech) and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for her debut Pink Friday.

Justin Bieber took the stage early and alone in a white leather motorcycle outfit  for his ska-inflected holiday hit “Mistletoe” but failed to score any big trophies over the course of the evening, despite a virtual legion of Beliebers.

Following an all-pink acoustic version of her tearjerker “The One That Got Away,” Katy Perry, otherwise winless for the night, was presented a special American Music Achievement Award for racking up five No. 1 hits on a single album. Michael Jackson and Prince have also received the award, but Perry is the first female artist to earn the accolade.

Rihanna and Beyonce, though not in attendance, both picked up awards: Rihanna took home Favorite Soul/R&B Album for Loud — a vote of confidence on the eve of Talk That Talk‘s debut — and Beyoncé was named Favorite Soul/R&B Female artist.

Notable presenters included a very healthy-looking Sean Kingston, recently recovered from a jet-ski accident, and Adam Lambert who hadn’t made an AMAs appearance since his controversial 2009 AMAs performance.

American Music Awards 2011 List Of Winners

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Taylor Swift POP ROCK BAND, DUO OR GROUP: Maroon 5 POP/ROCK MALE ARTIST:  Bruno Mars POP/ROCK FEMALE ARTIST: Adele POP/ROCK ALBUM: Adele, 21 SPRINT NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Hot Chelle Rae SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: Katy Perry, for five #1s from one album RAP/HIP HOP ARTIST: Nicki Minaj RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM: Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday SOUL/R&B MALE ARTIST: Usher SOUL/R&B FEMALE ARTIST: Beyonce SOUL/R&B ALBUM: Rihanna, Loud COUNTRY BAND, DUO OR GROUP: Lady Antebellum COUNTRY MALE ARTIST: Blake Shelton COUNTRY FEMALE ARTIST: Taylor Swift COUNTRY ALBUM: Taylor Swift, Speak Now LATIN MUSIC ARTIST: Jennifer Lopez ALTERNATIVE ARTIST: Foo Fighters ADULT CONTEMPORARY ARTIST: Adele CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST: Casting Crowns