SOUL SISTERS STEAL AMA SHOW
That said, a lot of talented people dressed up real purdy and were handed shiny statues to take home.
Wednesday was ladies' night at the American Music Awards, as neo-soul’s Alicia Keys, Destiny's Child and the late singer Aaliyah each won two awards.
Michael Jackson, whose original decision to bypass old pal Dick Clark's AMAs to appear exclusively on the Grammys prompted a suit between Clark and NARAS’ Michael Greene, accepted the Artist of the Century award but did not perform. What's more, organizers decided to pull a previously scheduled Jackson video clip.
Paul Shefrin, a spokesman for Clark, said the AMA was asked by "Jackson's representatives'' not to air the newly produced video clip of his 1988 song "Man in the Mirror."
The Clark-Greene flap momentarily injected a tiny bit of energy into the music-awards season. Thank goodness that's over.
Keys, who led all nominees with five, took home trophies for favorite new artist in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. She gave big ups to Clive Davis, who gets that a lot at awards shows.
Destiny’s Child were awarded favorite pop/rock album for Survivor and favorite soul/R&B band. Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash last summer, was named favorite female soul artist and won in the soul album category.
Country star Tim McGraw was the other multiple award winner, nabbing the favorite male country artist and favorite country album for Set This Circus Down. McGraw’s wife, Faith Hill, was named favorite country female artist.
NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake noted some audience grumbling when the quintet won favorite pop group over U2 and the Dave Matthews Band. ``Quit booing,'' he said. ``U2's going to get Grammys.'' U2 did win an Internet award at the AMAs, which must have done wonders for their self-esteem.
Country singer Garth Brooks, who won an Award of Merit, said backstage that artists should be free of worrying about such industry politics.
``I say, back off, you're nothing without the artists,'' Brooks said. Chris Gaines was unavailable for comment.
Other winners included Luther Vandross (favorite male soul/R&B), Sade (favorite adult contemporary artist), Limp Bizkit (favorite alternative music artist), Brooks & Dunn (favorite band, duo or group -- country), Nelly (favorite rap/hip hop artist), Yolanda Adams (favorite contemporary inspirational), Trick Pony (favorite new country artist), Lenny Kravitz (favorite male artist pop/rock), Janet Jackson (favorite female artists pop/rock) and Enrique Iglesias (favorite artist Latin music).
