Mary J. Blige was the big winner at Monday’s Billboard Awards, taking home nine awards for categories including Hot 100 airplay song of the year and videoclip of the year. The diva swept most of the R&B/hip-hop categories with wins for female artist, best artist, songs artist, and album artist. Her latest disc “The Breakthrough” won album of the year, while the hit single “Be Without You” won song of the year.
Carrie Underwood and rapper T.I. tied for second with five wins each. The American Idol winner’s debut album “Some Hearts” won the coveted album of the year prize. Underwood also took home the statuette for best artist and album of the year in the country category. T.I. took top prizes in the rap category, winning both artist and album of the year for “King.”
The Fray nabbed a trio of trophies in the digital categories, including digital album of the year for “How to Save a Life,” songs artist and album artist of the year.
Chris Brown, Nickelback and Rihanna each scored three trophies a piece at the kudocast.
Music legend Tony Bennett was paid special tribute with the Billboard Century Award.
Performances at the Billboard Awards included Janet Jackson, Fergie, will.i.am, Ludacris, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani and the night’s big winner, Blige. Nickelback, Kid Rock and ZZ Top closed the show.
The Billboard Awards were held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The winners of the 2006 Billboard Awards:
Billboard Century Award: Tony Bennett
Artist duo/group of the year: Nickelback
Artist of the year: Chris Brown
New artist of the year: Chris Brown
Album of the year: “Some Hearts,” Carrie Underwood
Female artist of the year: Rihanna
Male artist of the year: Chris Brown
Female Billboard 200 album artist of the year: Carrie Underwood
Hot 100 artist duo/group of the year: Nickelback
Hot 100 airplay song of the year: “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige
Female Hot 100 artist of the year: Rihanna
Pop 100 single of the year: “Promiscuous,” Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
Pop 100 artist of the year: Rihanna
Rap artist of the year: T.I.
Rap album of the year: “King,” T.I.
Rap album artist of the year: T.I.
Rap songs artist of the year: T.I.
Country songs artist of the year: Kenny Chesney
Country album of the year: “Some Hearts,” Carrie Underwood
New country artist of the year: Carrie Underwood
Female country artist of the year: Carrie Underwood
Female R&B/hip-hop artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop songs artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop album artist of the year: Mary J. Blige
R&B hip-hop album of the year: “The Breakthrough,” Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop song of the year: “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige
R&B/hip-hop song airplay of the year: “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige
Rock Album of the year: “All the Right Reasons,” Nickelback
Rock song of the year: “Animal I Have Become,” Three Days Grace
Soundtrack album of the year: “High School Musical”
Digital album of the year: “How to Save a Life,” the Fray
Digital album artist of the year: The Fray
Digital songs artist of the year: The Fray
Videoclip of the year: “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige
Videoclips artist of the year: T.I.
