LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Next was honored for being the next big thing in R&B, as the trio came away with eight of the Billboard Music Awards, including best new artist of the year.
Garth Brooks and Celine Dion each picked up six awards Monday night during the ceremony at the MGM Grand Hotel.Next also won the hot 100 single of the year for "Too Close," R&B single of the year, R&B singles artist of the year and hot 100 singles duo or group of the year. The group picked up more awards for new R&B artist of the year, R&B group of the year and R&B singles airplay track of the year.
Brooks won country artist of the year, and Dion won album artist of the year.
Performers included Bette Midler, Whitney Houston, Natalie Imbruglia, Shania Twain and Usher. Just the mention of the pop group Backstreet Boys had the teen girls in the audience screaming and yelling "I love you!" The reaction was so intense it drowned out the group's performance.
The Billboard Awards are determined by the magazine's year-end charts, which are based on a combination of record sales and radio airplay. The winners were:
GARTH BROOKS: country artist; country album and male album for "Sevens"; male albums artist; country singles artist; country albums artist.
CELINE DION: album for "Titanic"; female album for "Let's Talk About Love"; soundtrack album for "Titanic"; soundtrack single for "My Heart Will Go On"; album artist and adult contemporary artist.
LeANN RIMES: female country artist; contemporary Christian artist; contemporary Christian album; country singles sales artist.
USHER: artist of the year; hot 100 singles artist; R&B artist.
SHANIA TWAIN: female artist; hot 100 singles female artist; best-selling country single for "You're Still The One."
EVERCLEAR, modern rock artist.
JAY-Z, R&B albums artist.
JAMES TAYLOR, century award.
MARCY PLAYGROUND, modern rock track for "Sex and Candy."
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD Band, rock track for "Blue on Black."
MASE, rap artist.
LORD TARIQ and PETER GUNZ, rap single for "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)."
NATALIE IMBRUGLIA, adult top 40 track for "Torn."
LAURYN HILL, R&B album for "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill."
BACKSTREET BOYS, group album for "Backstreet Boys."