Musician Taylor Swift poses backstage with her awards for artist of the year, favorite country artist - female, favorite country album for "Red" and favorite female pop/rock at the 41st American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California November 24, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Photos: 41st American Music Awards

Country-pop star Taylor Swift scored big at the American Music Awards on Sunday, taking home four wins including the night's top prize for artist of the year, as some of pop music's biggest names came together for the fan-voted awards ceremony.

Swift, 23, beat out Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to win artist of the year for the third time, the most times an artist has won the category. She also won favorite female pop/rock artist, female country artist and country album for her 2012 record "Red," which featured songs about love and heartbreak.

"This validates that if you voted for this, that we are heartbroken in the same way and we fall in love the same way and we're happy in the same way, and if you listen to this, we're on the same page ... we're pretty much in it together," Swift said breathlessly as she accepted the final award.

Timberlake, 32, who returned to the musical spotlight this year after a five-year hiatus with "The 20/20 Experience," was nominated in five categories and won three, including favorite male pop/rock artist. The singer performed "Drink You Away" with his Tennessee Kids band on stage.