The 19-year-old star overshadowed Alicia Keys, who led the field with five nominations, and ended up with a pair of statues.
Brown was clearly shocked to win the artist of the year honors, the ceremony's final award.
"I probably was shocked like everybody else," Brown said backstage at the Nokia Theater. "I know everybody was like, 'Huh?' I thought Coldplay should have genuinely won that award, but I'll take it!"
He was also named favorite male artist in both the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories. His girlfriend, Rihanna, won those categories for the women.
Keys' album As I Am was named favorite album in the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories.
Other winners included voice-of-his-generation Kanye West, who won the first two American Music Awards of his career. He said he would give one of them away to fellow nominee, Lil Wayne.
"If it was last year, this would have been my award," he said of the favorite male rap/hip-hop category. "This year, it's Wayne's award. We'll see what happens next year." West also won favorite rap/hip-hop album with Graduation.
Taylor Swift won her first award, as favorite female country singer, for her album Fearless.
"It's an honor that you even care about the songs I wrote in my bedroom," said the 18-year-old star.
Brad Paisley, another first-time winner, won the favorite male country artist category. "I have always, always wanted to win an American Music Award," he said, pausing to survey the bottom of his statuette. "Made in China?"For the second straight year, winners were determined by online voting. So, the evening can be cited as exhibit R in the case for why America should be turned into a benign monarchy.
All of our American Music Awards Coverage is located here.
Featured in the gallery: Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Nick Cannon, Annie Lennox, Daughtry, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Jonas Brothers, Kanye West and Justin Timberlake.
View all 40+ photos of the winners from the American Music Awards gallery! The gallery of losers can be found in my high school yearbook.
Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
Rihanna
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
Chris Brown
Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group
Rascal Flatts
Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Album
Kanye West, Graduation
Favorite Country Male Artist
Brad Paisley
Favorite Pop/Rock Album
Alicia Keys, As I Am
Favorite Country Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
Rihanna
Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Male Artist
Kanye West
Breakthrough Artist
Jonas Brothers
Favorite Soul/R&B Album
Alicia Keys, As I Am
Award of Merit
Annie Lennox
Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Group/Duo
Daughtry
Artist of the Year
Chris Brown
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: www.gettyimages.com
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