In this screenshot provided by ABC on Nov 22, 2020, Taylor Swift accepts the award for artist of the year via video at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (PHOTO / ABC VIA AP)

LOS ANGELES - Taylor Swift was named artist of the year at the American Music Awards on Sunday and won two other trophies in a ceremony held live in Los Angeles amid tight coronavirus curbs.

It was Swift’s record sixth win of the top prize at the fan-voted show, although she was absent from the ceremony and thanked fans on video for their support of her surprise lockdown album folklore.

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Canadians Justin Bieber and The Weeknd - the latter sporting a large white face bandage - were the other big winners, with three awards each.

In this screenshot provided by ABC on Nov 22, 2020, Justin Bieber performs at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (PHOTO / ABC VIA AP)

Bieber was named favorite male pop/rock artist and picked up his two other wins for his collaboration with country singers Dan + Shay on 10,000 Hours. The Weeknd took home trophies for best soul/R&B male artist as well as for his album After Hours and song Heartless.

He gave no reason for his bandaged appearance, which confused fans on social media, but appeared to be an artistic choice that started with his March album cover on which he sported a bloodied and broken nose.

The Weeknd accepts the award for favorite soul R&B song for "Heartless" at the American Music Awards, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Nov 22, 2020. (CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP)

The show featured a mix of live and pre-recorded performances across Latin, country, pop, rap and R&B music soul in front of a handful of socially distanced fans.

“It has been a long year and now that 2020 is coming to an end it’s time to remember that we are one country, y’all. We need to heal,” said host Taraji P. Henson as she opened the ceremony.

This photo shows host Taraji P. Henson during the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Nov 22, 2020. (CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP)

Masked dancers were the order of the night, kicking off with Bieber singing his hits Lonely and Holy before being joined by Shawn Mendes for their duet Monster.

The awards celebrated the surge in popularity of Latin music with expanded categories and a steamy performance by Jennifer Lopez and Colombian singer Maluma singing Lonely in both English and Spanish.

This screenshot provided by ABC Nov 22, 2020 shows Shawn Mendes performing during the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (PHOTO / ABC VIA AP)

Becky G, whose parents are Mexican-American, won for best female Latin artist and dedicated her award to immigrant workers.

K-pop group BTS won two, for best pop/rock group and favorite social artists, and closed the show with a version of their hits Dynamite and Life Goes On from South Korea.

READ MORE: BTS marks year of the pandemic with new album, single

In this screenshot provided by ABC on Nov 22, 2020, BTS accepts the award for favorite pop/rock duo or group at the American Music Awards held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (PHOTO / ABC VIA AP)

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion marked her debut performance at the American Music Awards with Body and later accepted the best rap/hip-hop song trophy for her raunchy summer collaboration “WAP” with Cardi B.

But she was beaten in the best new artist category by Los Angeles singer Doja Cat, who was also named favorite female soul/R&B artist.