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The major question I am hearing today from folks is “Can you believe Taylor Swift beat out Michael Jackson for Artist of the Year” at the 37th annual American Music Awards????? The show aired live last night from L-A’s Nokia Theater. Bitter sentiments are mainly that if they were going to nominate the deceased icon, then they better damn well have known he would win- otherwise the loss looks disrespectful. Thoughts??

At least Taylor was classy enough to thank the Jackson family for the support they’ve shown her. Michael won overall Favorite Male and Male R-&-B Artist, both accepted on his behalf by brother Jermaine.

Lady Gaga Gets my vote as the most entertaining performance of the night! Check it out for yourself…..morbid yes, but at least she puts on a show! 
 

Ne-Yo introduced Rihanna, one the evenings most anticipated performers. Clad in a mummy-inspired form-fitting bodysuit with laser beams that shot from the shoulder pads, she performed two tracks from her new disc Rated R — “Wait Your Turn” and “Hard.”

 The Black Eyed Peas took the first award of the evening for Favorite Band, Duo or Group. The group’s Will-I-Am thanked his mom and the fans but I couldn’t stop laughing at his James Brown wig!! lolol

Beyonce won Favorite Soul/R-&-B Female Artist, but was not on hand to accept since she’s on tour overseas.

Other artists who went home with trophies included Jay-Z, who took Favorite Male Artist, Hip-Hop. During his acceptance speech, he acknowledged his humble upbringing in Brooklyn, New York’s Marcy Projects as well as Alicia Keys for appearing on “Empire State of Mind”. Alicia Keys opened her and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” with her singing the Frank Sinatra classic “New York, New York.” Unlike the M-T-V Video Music Awards, there was no stage bum-rushing from Lil Mama last night. Keys returned later in the show to perform “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart” off her new disc, The Element of Freedom.

Samuel L. Jackson presented Whitney Houston with the special International Award of Excellence. Houston followed with the night’s biggest “comeback” performance, singing “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,” a track from her latest disc I Look to You. Dressed in a white one-shoulder dress, she performed without incident but fell short of the Whitney the industry once knew.

…ANNNNND as announced, Janet Jackson kicked off the show with a heavily choreographed performance, which included a medley of hits like “Control,” “Miss You Much” and “Rhythm Nation” as well as her new single “Make Me.” It was recently announced that Janet inked a deal with A&M records and may be heading out on tour with- WAIT FOR IT……..Ashanti!! (???)

Drake, Kid Cudi and Jeremih did their best stiff-record-executive impressions to introduce Mary J. Blige, who performed her new single, “I Am.” And Jennifer Lopez marked her return to the recording industry with a fight-night inspired performance of her new single, “Loubitans.” Eminem was joined on stage by 50 Cent during a medley of songs from Em’s Relapse disc.Lady Gaga