However Taylor Swift was not there, but she's apparently incredibly popular. She beat out Michael Jackson to win Entertainer of the Year and took home a total of five American Music Awards.

The highlight of the night for me was Whitney Houston's performance of "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." While the rasp was present throughout the performance, the girl knows how to command a stage. She belted out the performance until she was almost out of breath. It was a powerful moment.



Michel Jackson ended up with four awards. Other multiple winners included hip-hop acts Jay-Z and the Black Eyed Peas, with two each.

The Black Eyed Peas were named favorite group in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. Jay-Z won favorite male artist and favorite album in the rap/hip-hop categories.

Punk rock trio Green Day was named favorite alternative artist. Rascal Flatts won favorite country group for the fourth year in a row.

Check out the individual photo galleries for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Rihanna, Fergie, Shakira, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Alex Meraz, Leona Lewis, Pete Wentz, Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Bobby Trendy, Ne-Yo, Val Kilmer, Kristen Bell, Sofia Vergara, Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson.

What the performances of Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Adam Lambert after the jump.

Check out all of our American Music Awards coverage here!

Here is our gallery of photos from the 2009 American Music Awards show featuring Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Samuel L Jackson, Nelly Furtado, Timbaland, Black Eyed Peas, Melissa Etheridge, Jermanine Jackson, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Gloriana, Mary J Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Keith Urban, Demi Lovato, Kris Allen, Jermaine Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jay Z, Alex Rodriguez, Julie Bowden, Sofia Vergara, Kelly Clarkson, Shakira, Christian Slater and Green Day.

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Even though she's no Victoria's Secret Angel, Fergie got in the spirit of the lingerie fashion show when she stepped out on the stage at The Armory in a emerald green halter top that showed off her underwear. She also donned a black leather and fishnets and made sure that during her performances with the Black Eyed Peas, she showed off plenty of leg while models made their way past.

While the models showed off showgirl-style, over-the-top designs in their skimpy lingerie and giant wings, host Heidi Klum took an unexpected walk down the catwalk in a tailor-made design that showed off her post-baby figure.

Many of the models were seen, veritably dripping in jewelry, with Marissa Miller encasing her pert puppies in a $3 million, diamond-covered bra. Who needs a wonder bra with special lifting powers, with jewels like that?

Gallery Info: Heidi Klum, Alessandra Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes, Marisa Miller, Miranda Kerr, Chanel Iman, Candace Swanepoe, Caroline Trentin, Izabel Goulart, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Anja Rubik, Lyndsey Scott, Erin Heatherton, Selita Ebanks, Sessilee Lopez, Fergie, Behati Prinsloo, Maryna Linchuk, Edita Vilkeviciu and Jay Z at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November 2009.

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There were several reasons for Rihanna, Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles to celebrate in London the other night.

Earlier in the evening, the Barbadian singer took to the stage at the Brixton Academy and debuted tracks from her new album, Rated R. Afterward, she launched into some hits from Good Girl Gone Bad and was joined on stage in a surprise appearance from Jay-Z, who arrived just in time to perform "Umbrella" with the young singer. As for Beyonce, she had reason to smile as well, having performed a sold-out concert at the O2 arena in London.

The threesome met up at Mahiki with Beyonce letting her hair down, showing off her legs and bright red lipstick. Jay-Z kept it simple in an all-black ensemble, complete with sneakers and sunglasses. While she kept her head shielded from photographers, Rihanna was hard to miss with her signature combed-over blond locks and a bright red, sheer mini-dress.

Sounds like any rumored baggage involved with the threesome was left at home. Or had its own hotel room.

Gallery Info: Rihanna, Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z celebrate the singer's Rated R launch and Beyonce's sold out show at the O2 arena in London at Mahiki in London.

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Janet Jackson will open the 37th annual AMA's this year, a year which might have been Michael's big comeback year.

Michael Jackson will receive five posthumous American Music Award nominations, so it only seems fitting that a Jackson should open up the ceremonies.  She's the obvious choice since, let's face it, Janet is the Jackson with the highest potential to hold it together and not weird-out in this highly prestigious setting.

AMA producer Larry Klein expressed he is, "thrilled about having Janet Jackson open this year's show," which is rumored to include, "an eight minute medley of songs," which will surely honor big brother, Michael as a tribute.   Career-wise the timing could not be better as Ms. Jackson is set to release a two-disc singles collections titled Number Ones as well as a new album, "slated to be released in 2010."

Now thin-again Janet has 9 AMA awards under her belt and has performed at the Awards on three other occasions.

To represent the full spectra of artist personalities, 21 AMA Award recipient Whitney Houston will also be performing, and will receive the "International Artist Award."  Shakira, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, Jay-Z, Carrie Underwood, and Green Day are also set to perform.

Gallery Info: Janet Jackson leaving Katsuya in Hollywood

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Musical superstars Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z might be ready to slow things down in order to make room in their busy lives for a baby (and a new stylist).

The New York Daily News reports, "While chatting up Gotham mag editor in chief Cristina Greeven Cuomo, the rapper let it slip that procreating is high on the duo's priority list right now."

Sounds like therapy sessions might have helped to help Beyonce sort through the trauma of having witnessed her little sis, Solange Knowles, give birth. Can't wait to see the inevitable maternity line by House of Dereon.

Gallery Info: Beyonce arrives at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, accompanied by her mother, Tina Knowles.

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Doing their best to keep breakup rumors at bay, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel walked hand-in-hand to take in the Jay-Z concert at the Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles. The couple appeared somber as they marched their way past paparazzi.

Always one to have a gorgeous lady on his arm, James Blunt showed up with a mystery blond sporting bright red lipstick and a smile.

DJ Samantha Ronson was flying solo to the event, as was mother-of-two, Nicole Richie. It's nice to see that Nicole is still sporting some post-baby curves, while Samantha is still looking skinny as ever.

Gallery Info: Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, James Blunt, Jamie Foxx, Nicole Richie and Samantha Ronson attend Jay-Z concert.

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Beyonce was the major winner of the evening at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Berlin. She took home a total of three EMA trophies - Best Female, Best Song and Best Video.

Eminem won the coveted Best Male category at the Awards, which honors and celebrates Europe's contemporary music stars, while Jay-Z triumphed in the Best Urban category. U2 clinched a well-deserved Best Live Act - scoring their third EMA award win since the MTV Europe Music Awards debuted in 1994.

Creative powerhouse Lady Gaga was honored in the Best New Act category while Green Day scored a victory over the Best Rock contenders. Best Group went to German rockers Tokio Hotel, who also wowed the 9,000-strong crowd with a stunning rendition of their hit "The World Behind My Wall," culminating in an explosive pyrotechnical display and the band's instruments consumed by flames.

Host Katy Perry brought her trademark energy and quirky humor to the awards, appearing in a dazzling array of costumes and looks inspired by burlesque and Liza Minnelli's Oscar-winning appearance in Cabaret, the novel which lifted the lid on decadent 1930's Berlin.

Among the many show highlights was a strikingly sexy performance of "Happy" by Leona Lewis, an upbeat version of "Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce and a high octane rock medley of "Wheels" and "All My Life" by the Foo Fighters. Colombian siren Shakira sent temperatures rising with a steamy performance of "Did It Again," performed with dancers dressed only in skimpy towels.

Check out the videos of Beyonce and Katy Perry performing at the award show, and see the list of winners by clicking the continue reading link below.

Gallery Info: Backstreet Boys, Beyonce, David Hasselhoff, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Jay Z, Katy Perry, Leona Lewis, Shakira and Tokio Hotel on stage at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards

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Once again, Chris Brown is discussing his frustrations with talk show host, Oprah Winfrey. The singer talked with Angie Martinez on New York's Hot 97 in a radio interview.

Of Oprah's initial reaction to the news of Brown's abuse of then-girlfriend, Rihanna, Chris said, "At the time, when I think I needed a helping hand, for her to reach out to me and talk to Rihanna and say this is wrong and this is right, or whatever the case may be."

As for individuals who did reach out to him, Brown cited Sean Combs and Will Smith. In addition, he cleared up any talk of strife between rapper Jay-Z, who had been rumored to be behind the reason for Chris Brown not performing at last year's BET Awards.

Brown said, "I don't know and don't think it was him. I don't got anything against homie."

Gallery Info: Chris Brown arrives at JFK International Airport in New York City with his mother, Joyce Hawkins.

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In case you thought we were finished beating the dead horse that is discussing Kanye West's stunt at the MTV Video Music Awards, you thought wrong!

During an interview for BBC Radio, Beyonce's husband, Jay-Z, gave his two cents on the situation. Without defending West's actions--which he describes as "rude"--the rapper claims that the backlash in the media has been "a bit blown out" of proportion.

Jay-Z says, "I think it was rude, but the way they're treating [Kanye]...He's on the cover of every paper. He didn't kill anybody. No one got harmed."

The hip-hop mogul explains, "At the end of the day, we're gonna celebrate him for his passion more than vilify him. As he grows and matures, he has to balance that."

Well said. I'm starting to think that maybe Beyonce and Jay should take Kanye in as their foster child. I have a feeling they could straighten him out.

Gallery Info: Jay-Z at Jo Whiley's home for his interview on the Radio 1 BBC show.

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