Youth ruled at the Billboard Music Awards Tuesday night as ’N Sync took Album of the Year honors, and several new artists came up big, according to Mr. Showbiz.
With six awards, the biggest winner was an artist who sang about women’s underwear.
“I wasn’t expecting to win that many,” said Sisqo, whose hit The Thong Song helped him to the title of Male Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year and four other honors.
Other big winners at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas included the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill and Destiny’s Child won four statuettes apiece.
’N Sync opened the show with Just Got Paid from their award-winning album No Strings Attached. The album also had the biggest first-week sales in the history of the Billboard charts. The boy band shared hosting duties with comedian Kathy Griffin.
The annual Billboard Awards, broadcast this year on Fox, are determined by the magazine’s year-end chart listings, which are based on a combination of record sales and radio airplay.
The Dixie Chicks’ awards included Country Group of the Year and Country Album of the Year for Fly. Destiny’s Child won Artist of the Year and Group of the Year, among other awards.
Faith Hill picked up awards for Hot 100 Single of the Year for Breathe and Female Country Artist of the Year, among others.
“It’s very difficult to articulate,” Hill said backstage. “It’s been an amazing year.”
Hundreds of teens lined up hours before the show to get a glimpse of their idols walking down the red carpet. “Britney, your boyfriend drives me crazy!” a group of screaming girls yelled in reference to Spears’ beau, Justin Timberlake of ’N Sync.
“This year has been, like, a dream come true for me,” Spears said after collecting her award for Album Artist of the Year.
Christina Aguilera and Brian McKnight presented the Male Artist of the Year Award to Sisqo, who was hiding his signature silver head with a blue wool hat. He thanked God and his lawyer, Steve Shapiro. Sisqo also took home the R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Male R&B Hip-Hop Artist of the Year awards. Skateboard champ Tony Hawk and Pink presented the Rock Artist o the Year Award to Creed. Pink’s hair is no longer that color. Instead, she has a rainbow shag.
The group 3 Doors Down performed its hit Kryptonite while the audience waved glowing green wands and a “superhero” dressed in green flew overhead. The band won three awards, including Best New Group.
The show began when dogs came running down the aisles of the arena as Baha Men, who took home two awards, performed its mega-hit Who Let the Dogs Out.
“When I heard it on Sportscenter, I knew that it was gone,” group member Moe Grant said about the song.
While music’s younger stars basked in most of the glory, former Eagles songwriter Don Henley presented Randy Newman with Billboard’s annual Century Award.
“In my opinion he’s one of our greatest musical storytellers. He may also be the most misunderstood and under-appreciated songwriter in America,” said Henley of Newman.
Acknowledging that he was something of an old-timer among the artists honored, Newman said, “There’s some beautiful, beautiful young people here tonight. I think I should have worn tighter pants.”
Here is this year’s full list of winners at the Billboard
Music Awards:
Artist of the year: Destiny’s Child.
Male artist of the year: Sisqo.
Female artist of the year: Christina Aguilera.
Duo/group of the year: Destiny’s Child.
Album artist of the year: Britney Spears.
Album of the year: No Strings Attached, ’N Sync.
Album duo/group of the year: ’N Sync.
Hot 100 singles artist of the year: Destiny’s Child.
Male hot 100 singles artist of the year: Sisqo.
Female hot 100 singles artist of the year: Faith Hill.
Hot 100 singles duo/group of the year: Destiny’s Child.
Hot 100 single of the year: Breathe, Faith Hill.
Hot 100 airplay track of the year: Breathe, Faith Hill.
Hot 100 songwriter of the year: Rob Thomas.
R&B/hip hop artist of the year: Sisqo.
New R&R/hip hop artist of the year: Sisqo.
R&B/hip hop singles artist of the year: Sisqo.
Female R&B/hip hop artist of the year: Toni Braxton.
R&B/hip hop airplay track of the year: "I Wanna Know,Joe.
Female country artist of the year: Faith Hill.
Country album of the year: Fly,Dixie Chicks.
Country duo/group of the year: Dixie Chicks.
Country artist of the year: Dixie Chicks.
Country album artist of the year: Dixie Chicks.
Modern rock track of the year: Kryptonite, 3 Doors Down.
Rock artist of the year: Creed.
Rock track of the year: Kryptonite, 3 Doors Down.
New duo/group of the year: 3 Doors Down.
New male artist of the year: Sisqo.
New female artist of the year: Pink.
World music artist of the year: Baha Men.
World music album of the year: Who Let the Dogs Out, Baha Men.
Top 40 artist of the year: ’N Sync.
Adult top 40 track of the year: Everything You Want, Vertical Horizon.
Adult top 40 artist of the year: Vertical Horizon.
Latin tracks artist of the year: Son By Four.
Latin track of the year: A Puro Dolor, Son By Four.
Latin pop track of the year: A Puro Dolor, Son By Four.
Tropical/salsa track of the year: A Puro Dolor, Son By Four.
Biggest one week sales of an album ever: ’N Sync, No Strings Attached.
Biggest one week sales of an album ever by a female artist: Britney Spears, Oops! … I Did It Again.
Century Award for creative achievement: Randy Newman. – Albawaba.cojm.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
