Taylor Swift. - AFP Photo

LOS ANGELES: Country music songstress Taylor Swift was the big winner on Sunday at the American Music Awards, walking away with three prizes including Artist of the Year.

British soul diva Adele also won three gongs, while Canadian teen sensation left empty handed at the awards, voted for by fans and announced at a star-studded show in Los Angeles.

Bieber, who was last year's big winner at the AMAs, sang a tune from his Christmas-themed album “Under the Mistletoe,” but failed to win in the only category in which he was shortlisted, for best pop/rock male artist.

Other winners included Katy Perry, Beyonce and Nicki Minaj, who won both rap/hip-hop gongs up for grabs.

Adele won in three of the four categories in which she was nominated - but did not attend the show, in Los Angeles Nokia Theatre, as she is out of action after undergoing throat surgery.

But the big news of the night was Swift, who took all three prizes for which she was nominated - artist of the year, as well as best female artist and best album for “Speak Now” in the country music category.

Swift - who was named entertainer of the year at the Country Music Awards a few weeks ago, called her AMA triumph “one of the most amazing things that have ever happened to me.”

The 21-year-old from Pennsylvania is no stranger to music industry glory: she has son four Grammys, including album of the year last year for her second record “Fearless.”

Sharing success in the AMA country music category were fellow serial award winners Lady Antebellum, who won the prize last year and went on to become the big winners at this year's Grammys.

In the soul/R&B category, best female artist went to Beyonce - who sent her thanks by video message from New York, as she is expecting her first baby, while Usher won best male artist.

Rihanna, who also sent her regards by message, won soul/R&B best album for “Loud.”

Nicki Minaj meanwhile beat Lil Wayne and Kanye West to win best rap/hip-hop artist, her first AMA - and then quickly won her second, for best rap/hip-hop album for “Pink Friday.”

Best new artist went to Hot Chelle Rae, who have already had a hit with “Tonight Tonight” On the Latin front, Jennifer Lopez took the top prize against a shortlist which also included Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias - and thanked everyone in English and Spanish.

Californian girl Katy Perry, who performed dressed in pink strumming a pink guitar, seemed surprise when given a special award, for the first artist to have five number one singles from the same album.

“Thanks for letting me be a chameleon this year,” said Perry, whose new single, “The one that got Away,” is a slower, more soulful number than big hits like “I Kissed A Girl” and “California Gurls.”