LOS ANGELES — The path to the podium at the American Music Awards is a familiar one for Garth Brooks.
The top selling artist of the 1990s began the new decade by winning two AMA trophies Monday, for best country male artist and country album for "Double Live." He has raised the possibility of retiring at the end of the year.
"I'm not sure that people don't need a breather from Garth," he said after also receiving a special honor as artist of the 1990s. "You look at your three children, and really, that's your calling.
"Also, Sandy and my relationship deserves the time to be worked on," he said of his marriage.
Veteran musicians like Brooks held their own Monday against a wave of young up-and-comers, including the Backstreet Boys, the Dixie Chicks and Lauryn Hill.
The first honor of the night went to the sentimental favorite, 52-year-old rock guitarist Carlos Santana, who received a standing ovation after accepting the favorite pop-rock album award for "Supernatural."
After thanking his family, Santana brought his co-producer, Clive Davis, onstage to share the honor. Davis has been in a high-stakes power struggle over his future with the company that owns Arista Records.
Backstage, Santana said, "a lot of people told me they didn't want to work with me because I'm old. Mr. Davis believed in me. We both believed we had a masterpiece in our belly."
"Supernatural," which put Santana atop the charts for the first time in his 30-year career, beat out two teen sensations, the Backstreet Boys' "Millennium" and Britney Spears' " . . . Baby One More Time."
Longtime collaborators Brooks & Dunn were named best country band, duo or group, beating out Diamond Rio and the Dixie Chicks, who also lost out against Brooks for best country album.
Shania Twain won for pop-rock female artist and country female artist. Hill was honored as favorite soul-rhythm and blues female artist while "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" won for soul-R&B album.
Including the artist of the decade honor, Brooks has 16 trophies, tying him with Lionel Richie for fourth place on the all-time list of American Music Award winners.
DMX won for favorite rap-hip hop artist. On stage he thanked Jesus, but backstage, he grumbled that with two hit albums out previously, he should have already won an honor. "I feel I should have won a few awards," he said. "Give it all to me."
Whitney Houston, who tied with Twain and Spears for most nominations with three, was shut out and didn't attend. Awards spokesman Paul Shefrin said her absence was unrelated to an incident in Hawaii last week, when airport security guards said they found marijuana in her bag.
Tyrese took the honors for new soul-rhythm and blues artist.
Mariah Carey received an Award of Achievement for her "rare and distinguished accomplishments." Nominees for the 27th annual awards were chosen by music industry representatives. The winners were decided in voting by about 20,000 music fans nationwide.