Taylor Swift jokes about straightened hair

Taylor Swift has admitted that some people didn't recognise her backstage at the AMA Awards because she had straight hair.

The 'Back To December' star switched her trademark curls for a sleek ponytail at this weekend's ceremony where she performed and also picked up the gong for 'Favourite Female Artist - Country'.

"They straightened it and it was interesting because my hair is naturally 'froed out; it's always curly so that's why I always do it curly - it's a little easier," she explained during an appearance on yesterday's Tonight Show With Jay Leno.

"[They] straightened my hair and I'm walking through the halls of this awards show and I'm passing by people I know and I've known for years - these other musicians - and I'm like, 'Hey!' And they're, like, walking by!"

She joked: "[I thought], 'I'm back in junior high right now! This is weird, this is what this used to be like.'"

Swift, who turns 21 next month, was on the late night show to promote her upcoming NBC Thanksgiving special, which follows her as she promotes her record-breaking album Speak Now and features behind-the-scenes and recording studio footage.

"I'm really excited about it," she said. "The cameras were following me for the entire release week of this really important record that I'm really proud of and it's exciting to me that it is documented."

The Taylor Swift: Speak Now special airs on November 25 at 8pm ET on NBC. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno airs weeknights at 11.35/10.35c on NBC.