The young country superstar Taylor Swift cleaned up at last night's American Music Awards, picking up five awards including the coveted Artist of the Year award. Swift went into the ceremony finale Artist of the Year presentation ties with the late Michael Jackson with four awards and both were nominated for it. Besides Swift and Jackson, the Black Eyed Peas and Jay-Z received more than one award, with two each.

Swift did not attend the ceremony, accepting her awards via sattelite from Wembley Arena in London, where she ids scheduled to perform tonight.

"Music has never been ultimately about competition," Swift said, after claiming the top prize. She said it was an "unimaginable honor" to be cited in the same category as Jackson, and thanked the Jackson family.

Rapper Eminem, with four nominations, as well as Lady Gaga and Kings of Leon, with three nominations each, went home without an award.