Taylor Swift was back to basics at the American Music Awards on Sunday night, performing a medley of hits following an ugly public clash with music manager Scooter Braun over the rights to her catalog.
The 29-year-old pop superstar blended throwbacks — including “Blank Space” from her 2014 album, “1989” — with current hits, like the title track of her 2019 album “Lover.”
The much-anticipated five-song performance was the highlight of the awards show at the Microsoft Theater in LA.
Swift had been embroiled in a feud with Braun and her former label, Big Machine Records, over the rights to her old songs. She claimed the label was keeping her from performing the tunes at the AMAs.
But last week, the label and awards-show producer Dick Clark Productions reached a licensing agreement that enabled her to sing her pre-“Lover” hits.
During her performance, she made a not-so-veiled statement against Big Machine, coming out in a white dress emblazoned with her old record titles.
Swift was also presented with the Favorite Album award for “Lover” — and then with the honorary Artist of the Decade and four other awards, sending her past Michael Jackson for the most-ever wins at the annual ceremony, with 29.
“This is amazing,” Swift said. “This album really felt like a new beginning and I really love my record label.”
Other highlights from Sunday night included the first win by 17-year-old Billie Eilish, who took home the award for Favorite Artist — Alternative Rock.
The singer was taken aback by the accomplishment.
“I grew up being in love with all of you,” she told the audience.