Entertainment

Taylor Swift wins big at American Music Awards 2011

The American Music Awards is not as prestigious as the Grammy Awards, and it lacks the edginess of the MTV Video Music Awards, but it is a big awards show nonetheless.

This year’s ceremony was broadcast from Los Angeles on Sunday night. Performers included an out-of-breath Jennifer Lopez, a matured Justin Bieber and an over-the-top Nicki Minaj.

Taylor Swift was the night’s big winner. On the heels of her recent win for the coveted Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year, Swift won for Country Female Artist; Country Album (Speak Easy), and Artist of the Year

Other winner included British artist Adele, who is recovering from vocal cord surgery. Nominated for four awards, the singer/songer went home with three: Adult Contemporary Artist, Pop/Rock Female Artist and Pop/Rock album for “21.” The Foo Fighters won for Alternative Rock Artist; Blake Shelton won Country Male Artist; Lady Antebellum won for Country Band, Duo or Group; and Jennifer Lopez received the award for Latin Music Artist.

Bruno Mars won for Pop/Rock male Artist. Maroon 5 took home the award for Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group. And Nicki Minaj won both Rap/Hip-Hop artist and Rap/Hip-Hop album for “Pink Friday.”

Beyonce was named Soul/R&B Female Artist and Usher took the male category. Rihanna won the Soul/R&B Album for “Loud,” and Hot Chelle Rae was named New Artist of the Year.

Hollywood’s dream couple Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher are no more

After six years of marriage, Demi Moore, 49, announced Thursday that she is ending her marriage to 33-year old Ashton Kutcher.

The news is not a great surprise to many. The announcement comes after months of rumors that the couple has been having marital problems. Some speculated that Kutcher, the new star of “Six and a Half Men,” had been unfaithful.

In a statement, Moore said, “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton. As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life. This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone gong through a similar situation.”

Ashton tweeted, “Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail. Love and Light, AK.”

Moore was previously married to Bruce Willis. They have three daughters together, Rumor, Scout and Tallulah Belle. The two divorced in 2000.

The New York Post estimates the coupe will battle it out in a bitter $290 million divorce.

Propofol expert is final witness in Murray trial

A propofol expert, Dr. Stephen Shafer, was the final witness for the prosecution in the trial of cardiologist Conrad Murray for involuntary manslaughter of pop icon Michael Jackson.

Shafer’s testimony on Thursday focused on the importance of precise administration of the sedative to a patient because a slight overdose can cause a person to wake up hours later.

Shafer, who teaches anesthesiology at Columbia University, conducted research that established dosing benchmarks still used by the medical community when propofol was first introduced in the 1990s.

He did not finish his testimony Thursday and will return to the Los Angeles court on Monday.

Previous witnesses, who were also doctors, described Murray’s supervision over his celebrity patient as bordering on negligence. They blamed Murray for causing the death of Jackson at age 50 in June 2009.

One witness, Dr. Nader Kamangar, said that even if Jackson self-administered the sedative as initially claimed by Murray, the cardiologist would still be culpable for his patient’s death.

Murray has admitted he administered propofol to Jackson upon the entertainer’s insistence because of his difficulty in sleeping during preparation for a series of concerts in London