USA: Mariah Carey receives only one prize despite her four nominations at American Music Awards now in their 33rd year

Pop diva Mariah Carey suffered a surprise setback in the resurrection of her career on Tuesday (November 22) when she picked up just one prize at the American Music Awards, having led the field with four nominations. Multiple honours went to country star Tim McGraw, punk rock trio Green Day, pop singer Kelly Clarkson, R&B trio Destiny's Child and funk band the Black Eyed Peas, who each won a pair. History almost repeated for Carey, 35, who went home empty-handed in 1997 after leading with six nominations. But some things do not change. Many of the winners were not present, including Green Day, Clarkson and the Black Eyed Peas. Other no-shows included rapper Eminem and his protg, 50 Cent, and R&B singer R. Kelly. Carey won the evening's first award, for favourite soul/R&B female artist, and it seemed as if she was set for a clean sweep. But the 20,000 record-buyers whose votes determine the winners had other ideas. She lost the favourite female pop/rock prize to Gwen Stefani, who seemed surprised by the win. Later in the evening, Carey's comeback album, "The Emancipation of Mimi," lost the pop/rock and soul/R&B races to Green Day's "American Idiot" and Destiny's Child "Destiny Fulfilled," respectively. Carey's album is one of the biggest sellers of the year, with worldwide sales of more than seven million copies, according to her Island Def Jam label. The single "We Belong Together" ruled the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks. "I just have to first take a second and say first of all thank you so much for the warmth and the love," Carey said on stage. Four years ago, Carey's career hit the skids as she released a flop movie and album. Her previous label, Virgin Records, which had just signed her to a contract reportedly worth 80 million U.S. dollars, paid her 28 million dollars (USD) to leave. Stefani, 36, had just finished a duet with hip-hop impresario Pharrell and was trying to negotiate her way backstage when her name was called. "What did I win?" she asked, after rushing back to the stage with her monitors still lodged in her ears. Actor-singer Will Smith won favourite male artist in the pop-rock division, edging out Rob Thomas and 50 Cent, while R. Kelly edged Omarion and John Legend for favourite soul-R&B male artist. "It is hard sometimes to stay committed to principles to stay committed to ideas in the face of a world where things are leaning another direction. There is a pull, there is a gravitational pull to negativity and I just want you all to know from the bottom of my heart that I am going to hold it down for as long as I can," Smith said on stage. Nashville star Tim McGraw, 38, won the favourite male artist and favourite album prizes in the Country category. The awards brought his career tally to eight. "I also want to say that I am proud to be a part of an industry, the country music industry, that carries itself with character and has respect for other people along with ourselves and each other. I am proud of every guy I am in the nomination with. Me and Kenny (Chesney) came up together selling hot dogs in a hot dog stand with guitars. It has been a long time and hope we do it for a long time more," McGraw said as he accepted his award. The Black Eyed Peas were named favourite group in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. R&B trio Destiny's Child, represented by Kelly Rowland, also won the soul/R&B award for favourite group, while Green Day's haul also included favourite artist in the alternative music category. Inaugural "American Idol" winner Clarkson was named favourite adult contemporary artist. She also won a viewers' choice award determined by text messages sent in from people at home. Performers included reunited British duo the Eurythmics, and The Rolling Stones, live via satellite from a concert in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nominees are drawn from top acts determined by retail sales and radio airplay, while winners are voted on by a random poll of about 20,000 record-buyers. "It is the people that vote for this award where as the Grammy its NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) organization. I belong to the NARAS organization not that I vote every time. But I do. For Grammys it's industry voting on industry and this is the people voting for their favourite guy," said awards show performer and veteran musician Cyndi Lauper, on the arrival line. The awards, now in their 33rd year, were the first not overseen by producer Dick Clark, who is recovering from a stroke.

ITN Source | November 23, 2005

Tags:. .negativity. .nashville. .stroke. .idiot. .duo