R&B singer Chris Brown swept the American Music Awards on Sunday, winning three prizes including artist of the year.

Singer Chris Brown (L) receives his award for pop/rock favorite male artist from T-Pain at the 2008 American Music Awards in Los Angeles November 23, 2008. [Reuters]

The 19-year-old star, famed for his on-stage athleticism, overshadowed Alicia Keys, who led the field with five nominations, and ended up with a pair of statuettes.

Brown was clearly shocked when his name was announced for artist of the year, the ceremony's final award.

"I probably was shocked like everybody else," Brown told reporters backstage at the Nokia Theater. "I know everybody was like, 'Huh?' I thought Coldplay should have genuinely won that award, but I'll take it!"

He was also named favorite male artist in both the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories. His girlfriend, Rihanna, won those categories for the women, beating Keys in both races.

Keys' awards were for her chart-topping disc, "As I Am," which was named favorite album in the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories.

Behind Keys in the nominees list were British rock band Coldplay and American country-rock veterans the Eagles, who both went home empty-handed.

Other multiple winners included outspoken rapper Kanye West, who has never been afraid to express his dismay when he is overlooked at awards shows. He won the first two American Music Awards of his career, but said he would give one of them away to fellow nominee, Lil Wayne.