LOS ANGELES (Top40-Charts) - The 29th Annual American
Music Awards were primarily dominated by women, as Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, and the late
Aaliyah each earned two AMAs on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, country singer
Tim McGraw made a strong showing for the men, notching victories in the favorite country male artist category and favorite country album for Set This Circus Down.
Destiny's Child won favorite pop/rock album honors for Survivor and favorite soul/R&B group, while Keys won favorite new artist in the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories. R&B singer and actress Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in August of 2001, earned favorite soul/R&B female artist and favorite soul/R&B album for her self-titled third album.
The show opened with a bang as co-host Sean "P. Diddy" Combs set things off with a special performance of his hit "Bad Boy For Life" which included an impromptu appearance by Ben Stiller and guest performance by Snoop Dogg. Halfway through the performance, Combs was joined on stage by Mr. Cheeks, who performed a remix of his hit "Lights, Camera, Action!"; as well as teen sensation Lil' Bow Wow, who tore up a rug with the popular "crip walk" dance step. Following a change of clothes, Combs joined his co-host Jenny McCarthy on stage to get the show officially started.
One of the evening's highlights occurred when Janet Jackson referred to Lenny Kravitz's "fine ass" while introducing the rocker via satellite from Tokyo, Japan. Jackson later accepted her award for favorite female pop/rock artist via satellite as well.
Jackson and newcomer Alicia Keys were bested by the late Aaliyah in the favorite female soul/R&B artist category. Aaliyah's friend and collaborator Ginuwine, who coincidentally was presenting the award, accepted on behalf of the fallen star, who received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd.
In an unusual pairing, R&B sensation Usher, who underwent surgery for a dislocated surgery in November, performed his latest chart-topping hit "U Got It Bad" with the assistance of Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi on guitar. The crowd was treated to a view of Usher's physique when the singer ripped off his T-shirt during his performance.
Pop diva Britney Spears serenaded the crowd in a form-fitting pale peach dress with the sultry "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" from her multiplatinum Jive Records album, Britney. The crowd was later treated to the premiere of Cher's latest song, "This Is A Song For The Lonely."
Kid Rock, who was introduced by his girlfriend Pamela Lee, attempted to make a statement in support of live music when he began his performance of his latest hit, "Lonely Road Of Faith," with a tape recording and look-a-like mannequin. The rocker then rolled out on stage on the hood of the General Lee of Dukes Of Hazzard fame before launching into a high-energy performance of the song.
Crooner Luther Vandross, who beat out Ginuwine and R. Kelly to win his sixth AMA in the favorite male soul/R&B artist category, performed "My Sweet Lord" as a tribute to the late George Harrison of the Beatles, who died November 29 after a battle with cancer. The song, originally written and performed by Harrison, was also dedicated to several other musicians who were lost during 2001, including Aaliyah, Perry Como, bluesman John Lee Hooker, John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas, and country artist Chet Atkins.
Some of the special awards which were handed out during the show include the award of merit, which was presented to Garth Brooks, and the brand new Coca-Cola new music award which was presented to Carbon Leaf, an unsigned group who beat out 800 other acts to land the award and the opportunity to perform at the AMAs. In addition, comedian Chris Tucker presented Michael Jackson with the artist of the century award to close out the evening's festivities.
The 29th Annual American Music Awards
Complete Winners' List
P0P/ROCK
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - Lenny Kravitz
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - Janet Jackson
FAVORITE GROUP/DUO - *NSYNC
FAVORITE ALBUM - Destiny's Child - Survivor
FAVORITE NEW ARTIST - Alicia Keys
SOUL/R&B
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - Luther Vandross
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - Aaliyah
FAVORITE GROUP/DUO - Destiny's Child
FAVORITE ALBUM - Aaliyah - "Aaliyah"
FAVORITE NEW ARTIST - Alicia Keys
COUNTRY
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - Tim McGraw
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - Faith Hill
FAVORITE GROUP/DUO - Brooks & Dunn
FAVORITE ALBUM - Tim McGraw - Set This Circus Down
FAVORITE NEW ARTIST - Trick Pony
RAP/HIP-HOP
FAVORITE ARTIST - Nelly
ALTERNATIVE
FAVORITE ARTIST - Limp Bizkit
ADULT CONTEMPORARY
FAVORITE ARTIST - Sade
LATIN MUSIC
FAVORITE ARTIST - Enrique Iglesias
ADULT CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
FAVORITE ARTIST - Yolanda Adams
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK - Save The Last Dance
INTERNET ARTIST OF THE YEAR - U2
COCA-COLA NEW MUSIC AWARD - Carbon Leaf
AWARD OF MERIT - Garth Brooks
