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 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 U.S. 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.
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.
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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.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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