Soul singer Toni Braxton and rocker Alanis Morissette were the only multiple winners at the American Music Awards Monday, while Mariah Carey once again left an awards show empty-handed.
Braxton and Morissette each won two awards. Carey, who had led the field with five nominations, suffered a repeat of the Grammys last year when her six nominations yielded no prizes. She did not attend Monday's show at the Shrine Auditorium.Among other winners were Garth Brooks, Eric Clapton, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Hootie and the Blowfish and 14-year-old country singer LeAnn Rimes.
Braxton won for favorite female artist and favorite album ("Secrets") in the soul/r&b category, and performed while dressed in a revealing costume. Canadian-native Morissette, who did not appear at the show, won the corresponding awards in the pop/rock category. Her album "Jagged Little Pill" has sold almost 12 million copies in the United States since its release in 1995.
Late rapper Tupac Shakur, who was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas last year, won favorite artist in the rap/hip hop category.
One of the most heartfelt acceptance speeches came from Jewel Kilcher, who won favorite new artist in the pop/rock category.
"I went from living in a car to being here today. Don't ever lose hope . . . it works," said the 22-year-old singer, who goes by her first name. Her debut album "Pieces of You" sold almost 1.5 million copies in the United States, and she is in contention for the best new artist Grammy next month.
Among groups, Metallica won for favorite heavy metal/hard rock artist, Smashing Pumpkins won for favorite alternative artist, New Edition for favorite soul/r&b group, Hootie & the Blowfish for favorite pop/rock band and Brooks & Dunn for favorite country duo.
Among individuals, Clapton was favorite pop/rock male artist and Keith Sweat was favorite soul/r&b artist, while the favorite male and female country artists were Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, re-spec-tive-ly.
The other favorite new artists were D'Angelo (soul/r&b) and Rimes (country).
Performers included Metallica, Bush and Motley Crue who had reunited with original vocalist Vince Neil. Veteran singer Pat Boone won much applause when he presented an award while dressed in tight black leather, fake tattoos and an earring to help promote his new heavy metal album.
American Music Awards nominees were drawn from radio airplay and retail sales data, and the winners voted on by a poll of about 20,000 members of the American music-buying public.