Usher grabs four American Music Awards
R&B sensation Usher won all his show-leading four nominations at the American Music Awards yesterday, and rap funksters OutKast went three-for-three during a performance-studded, occasionally-censored broadcast ceremony.
“Thank you for this moment. Thank you for this year,” Usher said as he picked up his last award of the night. “It’s been amazing.”
Usher won for favourite male soul-R&B artist, best pop-rock artist, best pop-rock album and best soul-R&B album for Confessions, which sold more than 1 million copies in its debut week.
OutKast, the Grammy winners whose album Speakerboxxx-The Love Below spawned the mega-hit Hey Ya! took home awards for favourite pop-rock band, favourite rap-hip-hop album and best rap-hip-hop group.
In his acceptance remarks, OutKast’s Big Boi paid tribute to founding Wu-Tang Clan member ODB, who collapsed and died inside a New York recording studio on Saturday. The rapper’s cause of death was not immediately clear.
“Rest in peace," Big Boi he said. “We love you.”
Soul diva Alicia Keys won favourite female artist in the soul-R&B category, edging out Janet Jackson and Beyonce.
Brooks & Dunn earned their fourth award for favourite country band. Toby Keith won awards for favourite country male artist and best country album.
“A lot of work went into this project,” Keith said of his album Shock’n Y’All. “This is cool.”
Sheryl Crow beat out Avril Lavigne and Jessica Simpson for the favourite female pop-rock artist award and received the prize for favourite adult contemporary artist. Rockers Linkin Park scored the favourite alternative music artist for the second year in a row.
Country singer Kenny Chesney said he was surprised to win a publicly-voted award for favourite performer.
“I really didn’t think anybody was going to beat Usher,” Chesney said.
Shortly before the start of the telecast, producer Dick Clark announced rapper Jay-Z won favourite male artist in the rap-hip-hop category. Singer Marc Anthony won favourite Latin music artist, and the group MercyMe won best contemporary inspirational artist.
The show was heavy on performances, some of them censored with words cut out, although a few presenters got away with racy material.
Gwen Stefani, stepping out without No Doubt, opened the show wearing a short, ruffled dress and white stockings and flanked by dancers, singing What You Waiting For?
Country singer Gretchen Wilson won the best new artist, beating out innovative rap newcomer Kanye West and the band Maroon 5.
Wilson lost to Reba McEntire in the category for top female country artist.
Nominees were chosen on the basis of record sales, with winners selected by a survey of about 20,000 listeners.
Veteran rockers Bon Jovi received a special merit award and performed their hits It’s My Life and Have A Nice Day.
Ringo Starr, on tape, introduced a video clip of The Beatles that hadn’t been broadcast in 40 years.
