LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson made history by winning four American Music Awards last night, but he couldn't beat Taylor Swift as the year's favorite artist and the evening's top winner.

The 19-year-old took the evening's top award, giving Jackson his only loss of the night, and five trophies in all.

The victories came during a performance-filled show that closed with an S&M-themed, sexually charged performance by Adam Lambert.

Jackson's trophies — he was named favorite male artist in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories, and his 2003 greatest-hits album, "Number Ones," won favorite album in both categories — were accepted by his brother Jermaine, who paid tribute to his late brother by wearing glittery white glove.

'NEW MOON' RISES TO NEAR-RECORD HAUL

LOS ANGELES — The vampire romance "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" sucked up $140.7 million in its first three days and pulled in a total of $258.8 million worldwide, according to studio estimates yesterday.

The No. 1 domestic debut for Summit Entertainment's "New Moon" doubled the $69.6 million haul over the same weekend last year for "Twilight," first in the franchise based on Stephenie Meyer's novels.

"New Moon" placed third on the all-time domestic chart behind last year's $158.4 million opening weekend for the Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight" and 2007's $151.1 million haul for "Spider-Man 3."

HUDSON PILOT'S LOVE LIFE BETTER THAN EVER

LOS ANGELES — Pilot Chesley Sullenberger jokes that his heroic handling of a disabled jetliner brought him "rock star sex" in an interview for "NBC's People of the Year" TV special.

Sullenberger, who safely ditched a US Airways jet in the Hudson River after geese hit the engines, is among those interviewed by Matt Lauer for the 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day special.

Lauer had asked Sullenberger and his wife, Laurie, whether his sudden celebrity helped or hurt their relationship. Laurie Sullenberger replied that "the hero sex really helps a 20-year-old marriage."

PALIN JOINS GRAHAM FOR DINNER, PRAYER

MONTREAT, N.C. — Sarah Palin yesterday dined and prayed with the Rev. Billy Graham, who has counseled presidents and other politicians for decades.

Graham had never met Palin, who is to stop at Fort Bragg, N.C., today to promote her memoir, "Going Rogue: An American Life."

The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, and her family, went to Graham's home in Montreat for dinner.