Eminem Wins Four, Ashanti, Creed, Dixie Chicks Take Two American Music Awards Each

01/14/2003 12:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Billy Johnson Jr

(1/14/03, 12 p.m. ET) -- Eminem was the big winner at the American Music Awards (AMAs) even though he wasn't at the ceremony to pick up his awards in person. The Detroit rapper landed four honors: favorite album in both the pop/rock and hip-hop/R&B categories for 2002's The Eminem Show, and also favorite male pop/rock artist and favorite male hip-hop/R&B artist. Eminem's 8 Mile co-star Mekhi Phifer accepted the hip-hop album prize on his behalf.

Ashanti, Creed, and the Dixie Chicks won two awards each. Ashanti won favorite new artist in both the hip-hop/R&B and pop/rock arenas. Creed, which was not in attendance, won favorite band, duo, or group in the pop/rock category, and also favorite alternative artist. The Dixie Chicks, who were also no-shows, won for favorite country band, duo, or group and favorite country album for Home.

Ashanti lost the favorite female hip/hop/R&B category to Mary J. Blige, who was also was not at the event.

Sheryl Crow continued her antiwar T-shirt campaign by sporting a top that read "War Is Not The Answer" as she accepted the very first AMA honor of her career, for favorite female pop/rock artist. The quote on her shirt is a lyric from the classic Marvin Gaye song "What's Going On?" Crow previously wore a shirt that read "I Don't Believe In Your War, Mr. Bush" when performing on ABC's Good Morning America in December of last year.

Nelly was named the popular favorite, beating out Ashanti, Creed, the Dixie Chicks, Eminem, and Enrique Iglesias to take home the fan's choice award. For that honor, fans voted online for their favorite artist of the past year.

Madonna was the recipient of the Michael Jackson Artist Of The Year Award, which was announced in between acts...and if you blinked you missed it. Neither Madonna nor Michael Jackson was present at the event.

Alabama was given the American Music Award Of Merit after a presentation by notables such as country singer Reba McEntire, former President George H. Bush, and singer George Strait.

Performances during the AMAs ceremony included a spectacular opening number featuring Tim McGraw with Elton John accompanying on the piano for "Tiny Dancer," Matchbox Twenty and frontman Rob Thomas performing the band's hit single, "Disease," and B2K turning out "Bump, Bump, Bump."

Shania Twain performed a medley of "I'm Gonna Getcha Good" and "Up!" As he sang, Twain climbed a metal staircase to the balcony level of Los Angeles's Shrine Auditorium, where she shook hands with and high-fived audience members.

Nickelback performed its hit single, "How You Remind Me." Ja Rule and Bobby Brown teamed up on "Thug Lovin'," while country superstar Kenny Chesney wowed the crowd with "Young." Other live performances included a Toby Keith and Willie Nelson duet, and Kelly Osbourne's inimitable "Shut Up."

Mariah Carey was backed by a choir as she performed her hit single, "Through The Rain." Carey dedicated the performance to her father, Alfred Roy Carey, who died on July 4, 2002.

The show was hosted by the Osbourne family, and presenters included Sheryl Crow, Paula Abdul, Pat Boone, Steve Harvey, Damon Wayans, David Spade, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Shaggy, Kellie Coffey, Nelly, Mya, Martina McBride, Josh Groban, LeAnn Rimes, Carmen Electra, Johnny Rzeznik, Ryan Seacrest, Kathy Griffin, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Busta Rhymes, *NSYNC's J.C. Chasez, Darryl Hall & John Oates, Heidi Klum, Trista Rehn (The Bachelorette), Mekhi Phifer, and Common, among others.

The 30th Annual American Music Awards aired live from Los Angeles on ABC.

2003 American Music Awards Winners List

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK: Eminem

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK: Sheryl Crow

FAVORITE BAND, DUO, OR GROUP - POP/ROCK: Creed

FAVORITE ALBUM - POP/ROCK: Eminem, The Eminem Show

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST - POP/ROCK: Ashanti

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - HIP-HOP/R&B: Eminem

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - HIP-HOP/R&B: Mary J. Blige

FAVORITE BAND, DUO, OR GROUP - HIP-HOP/R&B: OutKast

FAVORITE ALBUM - HIP-HOP/R&B: Eminem, The Eminem Show

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST - HIP-HOP/R&B: Ashanti

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - COUNTRY: Tim McGraw

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - COUNTRY: Martina McBride

FAVORITE BAND, DUO, OR GROUP - COUNTRY: Dixie Chicks

FAVORITE ALBUM - COUNTRY: Dixie Chicks, Home

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST - COUNTRY: Carolyn Dawn Johnson

FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE: Creed

FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY: Celine Dion

FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN MUSIC: Enrique Iglesias

FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC: Avalon

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK: Spider-Man

FAN'S CHOICE AWARD: Nelly

COCA-COLA NEW MUSIC AWARD - Moe Loughran

MICHAEL JACKSON ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD: Madonna

For more news at LAUNCH, click here.