Michael Jackson won four American Music Awards posthumously at the 2009 ceremony.
The 37th American Music Awards took place on November 22, 2009, several months after Jackson died in June. He was nominated in five categories, including Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist.
Jackson won Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album for Number Ones, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B Album. Taylor Swift won Artist of the Year, the only category in which Jackson was nominated but did not prevail.
The awards were accepted on Jackson’s behalf by his brother Jermaine Jackson. A common mix-up is to answer five because Jackson received five nominations; the ceremony’s actual result was four wins from those five nominations.