Eminem, Ashanti, Dixie Chicks dominate the American Music Awards
Eminem may lose himself in his music, but he didn’t lose a thing at Monday’s (1/13) 30th annual American Music Awards.
Eminem may lose himself in his music, but he didn’t lose a thing at Monday’s (1/13) 30th annual American Music Awards.
The Detroit rapper-turned-actor won prizes in all four categories in which he was nominated. Like many of the winners, Eminem was a no-show. His “8 Mile” co-star Mekhi Phifer, also of NBC-TV’s “ER,” accepted the hip-hop/R&B album award for “The Eminem Show” on his behalf.
Walking on stage with a cell phone in his hand and a burly security guard behind him, Phifer announced, “Hey y’all. This is Eminem on the phone. ...He said he wanted to give a shout out to Dick Clark ... and to all my peoples uptown at Harlem.”
In that category and favorite pop/rock album, Eminem beat out Ashanti, who took home two of the five awards for which she was nominated.
Broadcast live on ABC-TV, the American Music Awards was hosted by the oft-bleeped Ozzy, Sharon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne, a team that delivered one of the most entertaining awards shows in recent years. The Osbournes immediately gave the censors a run for their money. Their first victims were the uncoupled Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, whom Sharon Osbourne taunted for being apart. Jack and Kelly responded by running off the stage and sitting on Spears’ and Timberlake’s laps, respectively.
Sharon Osbourne repeatedly flirted with the musicians, especially Timberlake--who hugged and fawned over Sharon like a son would with a mother--and Lenny Kravitz, whom she called “God damn handsome.”
While the event was star-studded, no-shows were aplenty at the AMAs. Creed, which won for favorite rock group and alternative performance, and the Dixie Chicks, who were awarded favorite country band and country album for “Home,” were among the winners who didn’t attend.
Tim McGraw kicked off the AMAs by performing a duet of “Tiny Dancer” with the song’s original singer, Elton John. However, McGraw and wife, Faith Hill, jetted back to Nashville as soon as the performance was over. He won favorite male country artist.
Besides McGraw, a bleary-eyed Christina Aguilera performed during the three-hour ceremony. Actor-comedian David Spade mocked her new look, saying: “Here she is for the first time in public with her clothes on, Christina Aguilera.”
The rather demurely dressed Aguilera wore a corset top and a flowing, flowered skirt.
Sheryl Crow took the opportunity to send an anti-war message. Upon winning favorite female pop-rock artist, Crow slyly slid aside her black suit coat to reveal a white T-shirt that read “War is not the answer.” She repeated her sentiment when introducing Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. “Hey everybody, I know this is an award show but I just want to encourage everybody to get involved in some kind of movement for peace.”
That wasn’t the only reminder of an impending war. Former President George Bush offered a taped announcement during a tribute to Alabama, which took home the award of merit.
“I’m very proud to be part of tonight’s tribute honoring one of the most highly successful bands country music has ever known,” Bush said. “Their name tells you a lot about them: their birthplace, their close family ties, their respect for traditional artists and music, their courage to bring new ideas to country music, and most of all, their lifelong love of home, state and country.”
Favorite Male Artist - Pop or Rock ‘n Roll Music
Eminem
Favorite Female Artist - Pop or Rock ‘n Roll Music
Sheryl Crow
Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Pop or Rock ‘n Roll Music
Creed
Favorite Album - Pop or Rock ‘n Roll Music
Eminem - “The Eminem Show”
Favorite New Artist - Pop or Rock ‘n Roll Music
Ashanti
Favorite Male Artist - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Eminem
Favorite Female Artist - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Mary J. Blige
Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
OutKast
Favorite Album - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Eminem - “The Eminem Show”
Favorite New Artist - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Ashanti
Favorite Male Artist - Country Music
Tim McGraw
Favorite Female Artist - Country Music
Martina McBride
Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Country Music
Dixie Chicks
Favorite Album - Country Music
Dixie Chicks - “Home”
Favorite New Artist - Country Music
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Favorite Artist - Alternative Music
Creed
Favorite Artist - Adult Contemporary Music
Celine Dion
Favorite Artist - Latin Music
Enrique Iglesias
Favorite Artist - Contemporary Inspirational Music
Avalon
Favorite Soundtrack
“Spider-Man"
Fan’s Choice Award
Nelly
Coca-Cola New Music Award
Moe Loughran
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