Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sam Elliott

Taylor Swift wins song war as she performs hits after creating music history

Beaming Taylor Swift is now the most decorated artist in American Music Awards history on a night where she claimed victory over her former record label.

The megastar now has 29 awards to her name after collecting six gongs - overtaking legend Michael Jackson.

She beat Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande for Favorite Album: Pop/Rock for 'Lover' early on into the ceremony.

That levelled things up with MJ but there was more to come.

In the final moments of the show, she was also named Artist of the Year.

Her fans loved her energetic performance (Getty Images for dcp)
It was another night to remember for the superstar (Getty Images for dcp)

It came as she belted out her hits amid a feud with her former management who she claimed tried to stop her performing the classics.

The star did a medley of some of her biggest songs, including Love Story, I Knew You Were Trouble and Blank Space.

Her fans screamed in support as she drew a line under the row with former manager Scooter Braun.

Taylor and her ex-bosses have been at war over rights to her hits.

The megastar accused her former label manager and a prominent music industry figure of "exercising tyrannical control" over her music.

She celebrated friend Halsey's success too (Getty Images for dcp)
She managed to go one ahead of music icon Michael Jackson (AFP/Getty Images)

The 29-year-old Shake It Off singer had taken aim at Scooter and Scott Borchetta in a social media rant as her feud with them reached new heights - before they said there was no performance restrictions.

Taylor toasted her fans as she was named artist of the decade, saying the honour celebrated ten years of "hard work and of art and of fun and memories".

She added: "All that matters to me is the memories I have had with you guys, with you the fans, over the years.

The build up to the night wasn't without its complications (Getty Images)

"We've had fun, incredible, exhilarating, extraordinary times together and may it continue. I am so lucky to get to do this."

There had been fears she would be barred from playing tracks from her first six albums amid the row.

Taylor was introduced by singer-songwriter Carole King, who said "her lyrics resonate across the generations, her songs touch everyone and her impact around the world is extraordinary".

Last year, she broke the record for the most-awarded female artist with a grand total of 23 wins.

She didn't dig out her former management - but did praise her new record label (Stewart Cook/REX)

Mark Bracco, Executive Vice Pesident of programming & development at Dick Clark productions said: “Taylor’s impact on music this decade is undeniable and her performances on the American Music Awards have been truly spectacular.

“We’re thrilled to honour her as our Artist of the Decade and can’t wait for her to blow everyone away with an epic, career-spanning performance unlike any other!”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.