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LOS ANGELES - R&B singer Mary J. Blige is the top winner at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, taking home nine prizes, while "American Idol" champion Carrie Underwood was honoured for album of the year.
Underwood won five awards, as did rapper T.I. Four acts won three awards each: R&B singers Chris Brown and Rihanna and rock bands Nickelback and the Fray.
Brown, 17, who topped the charts with his first single Run It, took the top prize for artist of the year.
"This is crazy," Brown said, as he accepted at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. "I'm gonna keep doing it if y'all keep supporting me."
The event honours the top acts on the Billboard charts, as determined by radio airplay, digital downloads and retail sales.
It was televised in the US on the Fox network, whose censors were kept busy blocking naughty words from hitting the airwaves following a government crackdown. Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie's performance of her new solo tune Fergalicious was hit by a time delay three times and comedian Howie Mandel was censored when he appeared to be complimenting resurgent rapper Flavor Flav on the size of his genitals.
Blige's haul included R&B/Hip-Hop artist and female R&B/hip-hop artist. Her chart-topping album The Breakthrough earned her the awards for R&B album and R&B/Hip-Hop album. Her single Be Without You delivered the awards for Hot 100 airplay song, R&B/hip-hop song, R&B/hip-hop song airplay, and videoclip. Blige also was named R&B/hip-hop songs artist.
In addition to winning the album and country album prizes for Some Hearts, Underwood was named top female Billboard 200 album artist, female country artist and new country artist.
Rapper T.I. was named best rap artist, rap album artist, rap songs artist and videoclips artist. His album King took the rap album prize.
Tony Bennett received the Century Award for lifetime achievement. "I've been singing for 60 years," said the newly minted octogenarian. "The way you're treating me tonight, I wanna sing for another 60 years."
The winners:
Billboard Century Award: Tony Bennett
Artist duo/group of the year: Nickelback
Artist of the year: Chris Brown
New artist of the year: Chris Brown
Album of the year: "Some Hearts," Carrie Underwood
Female artist of the year: Rihanna
Male artist of the year: Chris Brown
Female Billboard 200 album artist of the year: Carrie Underwood
Hot 100 artist duo/group of the year: Nickelback
Hot 100 airplay song of the year: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
Female Hot 100 artist of the year: Rihanna
Pop 100 single of the year: "Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
Pop 100 artist of the year: Rihanna
Rap artist of the year: T.I.
Rap album of the year: "King," T.I.
Rap album artist of the year: T.I.
Rap songs artist of the year: T.I.
Country songs artist of the year: Kenny Chesney
Country album of the year: "Some Hearts," Carrie Underwood
New country artist of the year: Carrie Underwood
Female country artist of the year: Carrie Underwood
Female R&B/hip-hop artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop songs artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop album artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B hip-hop album of the year: "The Breakthrough," Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop song of the year: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop song airplay of the year: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
Rock Album of the year: "All the Right Reasons," Nickelback
Rock song of the year: "Animal I Have Become," Three Days Grace
Soundtrack album of the year: "High School Musical"
Digital album of the year: "How to Save a Life," the Fray
Digital album artist of the year: The Fray
Digital songs artist of the year: The Fray
Videoclip of the year: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
Videoclips artist of the year: T.I.
- REUTERS, BILLBOARD.COM
