Taylor Swift unstoppable at American Music Awards

 Taylor Swift and Adele rule 2011 American Music Awards 

Taylor Swift poses backstage with the awards

for country favorite female artist,

country favorite album, and artist of the year

at the 39th Annual American Music Awards

on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011 in Los Angeles.

 (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Less than 2 weeks after her triumph winning Entertainer of the Year at The CMA Awards

Taylor Swift beat Adele, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga to win Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards on Sunday Nov 19. This was the ceremony's highest accolade, which the 21-year-old singer-songwriter previously claimed in 2009.

"This is so crazy," beamed Swift (see photo of Tay accepting the award for artist of the year)

Taylor and Adele dominated the Awards walking away with three trophies each.

The Love Story hitmaker ruled the country music categories, taking home the Favourite Female Artist accolade and Favourite Album for SPEAK NOW, as well as the coveted Artist of the Year honour.

Accepting her award, a stunned Swift told the audience, "I wrote this album while I was on the Fearless tour and so I ended up writing lots of these songs at four in the morning in hotel rooms... And the fact that you would honour it in this way, you just have no idea what this means to me... I want to thank all the fans for remembering the lyrics and for caring about lyrics, I'm just so thankful and I'm so happy."

Taylor Swift stepped out the AMA red carpet glittering in gold. She  had opted for a strapless floorlength golden gown by Reem Acra, which was covered in sequins and boasted an elegant train at the back. ( photo – photo - Read more) 

"This is one of the craziest things that has ever happened to me," Swift said at the Los Angeles ceremony.

"I have no idea what I'm supposed to say - I did not think this was going to happen”

Adele had been the night's leading nominee with four bids, but the soulful singer didn't have much of a presence during the show: She was absent from the ceremony because she is recovering from recent throat surgery. Adele tied Swift with three awards, nabbing favorite pop/rock female artist, adult contemporary artist and pop/rock album for "21."

Other winners included Maroon 5 as favorite pop-rock band/duo/group, Beyonce as favorite soul/R&B female artist, Bruno Mars as pop/rock male artist, Foo Fighters as favorite alternative rock artist, Rihanna for favorite soul/R&B album for "Loud," Hot Chelle Rae as new artist of the year and Lady Antebellum as favorite country band/duo/group. (see photo Hillary Scott) —  "We just want to say thank you to the fans. It starts and ends with you and we just love you very, very much." - Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum (see photo ) as she accepted the band's prize for favorite country band, duo or group.

"We thank you very much for an incredible year," Lady A singer Charles Kelley told fans.

The sprawling three-hour ceremony inside the Nokia Theatre in an unusually rainy Los Angeles was drenched with musical performances, including Justin Bieber getting into the holiday spirit amid a forest of neon lights with "Under the Mistletoe," and Kelly Clarkson channeling the big-band era with a swinging rendition of "Mr. Know It All."

Several artists delivered stripped-down performances: The Band Perry (photo) crooned an emotional "If I Die Young," a subdued Katy Perry ( No relation! ) accompanied herself on guitar for "The One That Got Away".

Blake Shelton was voted best country male while Lady Antebellum won best country group.

The complete list of winners from the 39th annual American Music Awards, determined by online voting, is as follows:

Favourite Male Artist, Pop or Rock - Bruno Mars

Favourite Female Artist, Pop or Rock - Adele

Favourite Band, Duo or Group, Pop or Rock - Maroon 5

Favourite Album, Pop or Rock - Adele (21)

Favourite Male Artist, Country - Blake Shelton

Favourite Female Artist, Country - Taylor Swift

Favourite Band, Duo or Group, Country - Lady Antebellum

Favourite Album, Country -Taylor Swift (Speak Now)

Favourite Artist, Rap/Hip-Hop - Nicki Minaj

Favourite Album, Rap/Hip-Hop - Nicki Minaj (Pink Friday)

Favourite Male Artist, Soul/R&B - Usher

Favourite Female Artist, Soul/R&B - Beyonce

Favourite Album, Soul/R&B - Rihanna (Loud)

Favourite Artist, Alternative Rock - Foo Fighters

Favourite Artist, Adult Contemporary - Adele

Favourite Artist, Latin - Jennifer Lopez

Favourite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational - Casting Crowns

Artist of the Year - Taylor Swift

New Artist Of The Year - Hot Chelle Rae. 

SOURCES - WENN , Associated Press , BBC News, Daily Mail (Hosted photos)