Taylor Swift swept the 2022 American Music Awards Sunday night, winning all six awards for which she was nominated including the top prize of artist of the year.
Three of her awards came for her work on her re-recorded Red, including the 10-minute short film music video of “All Too Well,” starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien.
During her favorite pop album acceptance speech, Swift said she “never expected or assumed” her re-recorded albums would mean anything to fans, as
she recalled and thanked those who helped her spend “hours and hours in the studio, meticulously re-creating” Red.
She thanked the artists who joined her for the re-recorded version of her 2012 album, her “All Too Well” video stars and “I Bet You Think About Me” director Blake Lively and co-star Miles Teller.
Swift later returned to the stage to accept the award for best music video for “All Too Well,” thanking the fans for their support for the song, which Swift indicated was what allowed her to release the 10-minute version and make her short film starring Sink and O’Brien.
Swift had already collected her six awards when the show devoted its last 30 minutes to an extended tribute to Lionel Richie, recipient of the 2022 Icon Award, given to an artist whose work has produced a global influence over the music industry.
Richie took the stage and thanked his family, friends and manager and reflected on his 40-year history with the AMAs. Speaking to “the young superstars,” Richie told them, “God has given you a light. That light is only given to a few…
If you get a chance to have that light on you, understand what God has in store … God is trying to tell you you are chosen to inspire. Take this opportunity. That light is on you, inspire.”