Beyonce, R. Kelly Scoop Up Most Trophies At Billboard Music Awards
If the final major music-awards celebration of the year, the 14th annual Billboard Music Awards, is any indication, big things are in store for Beyoncé come Grammy night in February.
The Destiny's Child singer and R. Kelly (who is up for two Grammys) both nabbed four trophies each at last night's ceremony at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Not far behind were 50 Cent, Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz and Shania Twain, who each won three awards.
Beyoncé walked away with Hot 100 Female Artist, New R&B Artist, New Female Artist and the Hot 100 Award for Most Weeks at Number One (a combined 17 weeks for "Crazy in Love" with Jay-Z and "Baby Boy" with Sean Paul). R. Kelly took Hot 100 Producer, R&B Producer, Hot 100 Songwriter and R&B Songwriter.
Although 50 Cent won fewer awards, he took home some of the most prestigious: Artist of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Rap Artist of the Year.
Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz won for R&B/Hip-Hop Group of the Year, Independent Album Artists of the Year and Independent Album of the Year for Kings of Crunk.
3 Doors Down were honored with Duo/Group of the Year and Hot 100 Group of the Year and Evanescence took Group of the Year and Soundtrack Single of the Year for "Bring Me to Life."
In rock categories, Audioslave won Rock Artist of the Year and Modern Rock Artist of the Year and Trapt took Rock Track of the Year and Modern Rock Track of the Year for "Headstrong."
"American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken won Bestselling Single of the Year for "This Is the Night"/"Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Black Eyed Peas took Mainstream Top 40 Track of the Year for "Where Is the Love," which features Justin Timberlake.
Sting won the Century Award, which was presented by Stevie Wonder.
Winners were determined by Billboard magazine's year-end chart listings, and were based on record sales and airplay.
No Doubt opened the show with their cover of the Talk Talk song "It's My Life." Other performers included Beyoncé, who sang "Me, Myself and I," and R. Kelly, who performed "Step in the Name of Love," which ended with Kelly being carried down the aisles in a horse-drawn carriage.
The show was hosted by "American Idol" personality Ryan Seacrest and televised live.
2003 Billboard Music Awards winners list: