Los Angeles - Taylor Swift, straight off a
controversial dive into US politics, was the big winner at the
American Music Awards on Tuesday where she used her platform to
again urge her fans to get out and vote.
The 28-year-old pop singer won a record fourth artist of the
year trophy at the fan-voted American Music Awards, beating
rappers Drake and Post Malone, as well as Britain's Ed Sheeran
and rock band Imagine Dragons for the top prize.
She also picked up three other awards, for best female pop
artist, best tour, and best pop album for "reputation", the
biggest seller of 2017.
On Sunday, Swift provoked a storm by breaking her silence on
politics and announcing she would vote for two Democrats in
Tennessee in the US congressional midterm elections in
November. Her comments drove a spike in voter registration.
On Tuesday, the "Fearless" singer told the American Music
Awards audience in Los Angeles and millions watching at home to
go and vote.
"This award and every single award given out tonight is
voted on by the people. And you know what else is voted on by
the people? - The midterm elections of Nov 6. Get out and vote,"
Swift said when accepting her trophy.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, New York rapper Cardi B, brought down
the house with an exuberant performance of dance hit "I Like It"
with J.Balvin and Bad Bunny.
Cardi B, who has had a breakout 12 months, was also named
favorite hip-hop/rap artist, but she lost the best new artist
category to Cuban-born Camila Cabello.
Cardi B accepts the award for favourite rap/hip-hop artist at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Picture: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Other winners included Post Malone (male pop/rock artist),
Khalid (male soul/R&B artist), and country star Carrie
Underwood, who accepted her 13th American Music Award.
Boy band BTS became the first Korean group to win an
American Music Award, taking the trophy for favorite social
artists.
Glady Knight led a tribute to Aretha Franklin, who died of
cancer in August at age 76. Other performers included Mariah
Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Missy Elliott.
Some of music's top stars, including Drake, Ed Sheeran,
Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Rihanna and Kanye West, were absent on
Tuesday. West was snubbed in the nominations while Beyonce,
Rihanna and Grande got just one nomination each.
Apart from Swift, the show was largely politics free.
Host Tracee Ellis Ross sported a white T-shirt for part of
the evening saying "I am a voter," and presenter Billy Eichner,
best known for the TV comedy "Parks and Recreation," urged the
youth audience to register to vote.
"You can go to vote.org, like Taylor Swift told you to,"
Eichner said.