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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Keith Urban and wife/mermaid wonder Nicole Kidman arrive at the 2009 American Music Awards.  Kidman's dress is elegant, a bit ethereal and looks mighty comfortable.

Favorite Male Artist nominee Urban is also slated to perform at the awards.  Kidman, starring in the upcoming movie musical, Nine, is a presenter.

Check out all of our American Music Awards coverage here!

Gallery Info: Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman at the 2009 American Music Awards.

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His movie star wife, Nicole Kidman, recently confessed to Oprah Winfrey on her talk show of her love for the couple's adopted home of Nashville, Tennessee. And Australian, Keith Urban, says that from a very young age, he always dreamed of living in the country music hot spot.

Urban confesses, "My dad's record collection, well, really my mom and dad's collection was all country records. I saw 'recorded in Nashville, Tenn.,' written on the back of all of them, and so this is where you go to make records. I think I was 7 when I told my dad I would move there."

Currently, the singer is still going strong, seen here at the Santa Monica Pier in California, filming his most recent music video for his rabid country fans. Urban himself admits, "They can get a little aggressive." He adds, "Fingernails are involved." That's why he keeps his hair so straight--it slips out of their hands more easily.

Gallery Info: Keith Urban films new music video at the Santa Monica Pier in California.

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Academy Award-winning actress and doting mother, Nicole Kidman, credits her post-baby curves with nabbing her a role in the star-studded cast of Nine. Kidman tells Entertainment Tonight Canada, "[I had] big boobs because I was breast feeding--I was perfect for it. I wouldn't get cast now."

The Australian-born movie star clarifies to the Ladies' Home Journal, "They're not very big, my boobs, so they just became normal size. I loved it!" She adds, "I felt very Woman."

And according to Kidman, the ladies on the set of Nine--Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz and Fergie--kept the estrogen levels on the set very high. Nicole explains, "Kate had her son there, and Penelope Cruz and Fergie were like, 'I can't wait to have a baby.' We're all women's women." In fact, Nicole will also be a man's woman, in a manner of speaking.

Gallery Info: Nicole Kidman carries 16-month-old daughter, Sunday Rose Urban, while Keith Urban leave The Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel after a luncheon for the movie Nine.

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This year's Country Music Awards played host to many an American Idol alum and representing for the reality TV series was former contestant, Chris Daughtry, who was sporting his trademark shaved head and some man cleavage.

This year's Idol contestant, Danny Gokey, looked at home on the red carpet in hit long black coat and pale lavender shirt.

Tim McGraw was a man in black, keeping it simple in a dapper suit which included a cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes, which say, "Make sure you're behaving yourself or I will regulate." He ain't lookin' for trouble, y'all.

Gallery Info: Darius Rucker, Dale Earhardt Jr, James Otto, Randy Travis, Billy Currington, Jake Owen, Chuck Wicks, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kristian Bush, Keith Urban, Chris Daughtry, Jack Ingram, Kris Kristofferson, Danny Gokey and Luke Bryan at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Don't forget to check out 2009 CMA Music Awards: Lovely Ladies!

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Letting her hair down for this year's Country Music Association Awards, Nicole Kidman looked happy to be on the arm of her man, country singer, Keith Urban.

The Academy Award-winning actress made a splash onthe red carpet in a fitted pink, textured dress with a plunging neckline and cap sleeves. Keith looked chick in a charcoal suit and black shirt, that was unbuttoned JUST enough to show off his crazy tattoo underneath.

Gallery Info: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

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It turned out to be a huge night for Taylor Swift at the 43rd Annual Country Music Awards. The singer took home the Entertainer of the Year award, and became the youngest person ever, at the age of 19, to win the coveted award.

She also won awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year for her song "Love Story" and Album of the Year with Fearless.

"I'll never forget this moment because at this moment everything that I ever wanted has just happened to me," a tearful Swift said when accepting her award.

The fan favorite also had some fun at the expense of rap star Kanye West, who last month interrupted her acceptance speech at the MTV Music Video Awards by rushing onto the stage and telling the audience that R&B star Beyonce -- and not Swift -- should have won best female video.

"I want to thank every single person here tonight for not running up on stage during this speech," Swift said when picking up her trophy for female vocalist.

Check out the other winners, and watch the video of Taylor Swift winning Entertainer of the Year, after the jump.

Gallery Info: Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Barbara Mandrell, Martina McBride, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Wynonna Judd, Naomi Judd, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Kid Rock, LeAnn Rimes and Dave Matthews at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on November 11, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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It was a convergence of young and old at the 57th Annual BMI Country Awards. 19-year-old Taylor Swift won the prize for Song of the Year for the second year in a row and told the crowd, "I just want to say to every songwriter and every loved one of a songwriter, thank you, because you are the reason I wanted to try Nashville. You are all my heroes."

Assuredly included on her list of influences is country music legend, Kris Kristofferson, who was honored on stage with a tribute sung by Patty Griffin, Vince Gill and Willie Nelson. Songwriter Kris was bashful accepting the praise, telling the audience, "I'm very honored, but I'm really uncomfortable with everybody saying something praiseworthy and I feel stupid."

And high-profile country music couple, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, were out for date night at the event with Keith dressed in a snazzy dark suit and Nicole wearing a fetching red dress with a perfectly-placed black bow.

Gallery Info: Taylor Swift, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Vince Gill, Ronnie Dunn, Heidi Newfeld and Gloriana at the BMI ceremony.

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Click the photo above to find out who the handsy couple is.

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I wouldn't have taken Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban for tennis fans, but the excitement of the game clearly took over the couple. The attended the U.S. Open both yesterday and Monday.

On Monday, shared a kiss while watching Switzerland's Roger Federer wipe the floor with Spain's Tommy Robredo at the U.S. Open, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. The Open must bring out the love in people.

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