BLACK EYED PEAS were the big winners at the 34th annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles last night (21NOV06), converting all three of their nominations into gongs.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, KELLY CLARKSON, MARY J BLIGE and RASCAL FLATTS all collected two awards, and it was a big night for JAMIE FOXX, NICKELBACK, CARRIE UNDERWOOD, SEAN PAUL and gospel star KIRK FRANKLIN, who took home their first AMAs
. However, MARIAH CAREY was snubbed despite being nominated in three categories.
The WHERE IS THE LOVE stars were named Favourite Soul/R&B Group, Favourite Hip-Hop Group and picked up the Favourite Hip-Hop Album award for MONKEY BUSINESS.
Black Eyed Peas were unable to collect their gongs in person, but frontman WILL.I.AM thanked fans and artists "for keeping hip-hop progressive and pushing it forward" via satellite from Costa Rica.
Red Hot Chili Peppers were named Favourite Alternative Artists and Favourite Pop/Rock Group, but the band were another no-show and accepted their honours via satellite from London, thanking "the American people".
Clarkson won the Favourite Pop/Rock Female and Adult Contemporary Artist awards, while Mary J Blige scooped Favourite R&B/Soul Female and Favourite R&B/Soul Album for THE BREAKTHROUGH
. Rascal Flatts won Favourite Country Group and the T-Mobile Text-In Award, which was chosen by fans.
BEYONCE, THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS, NELLY FURTADO, GWEN STEFANI, LIONEL RICHIE, BARRY MANILOW and SEAN 'JAY-Z' CARTER all performed at the star-studded ceremony.
The three-hour awards show culminated with a duet between SNOOP DOGG and AKON.

The full list of winners is as follows: POP/ROCK
Favourite Male Artist - SEAN PAUL
Favourite Female Artist - KELLY CLARKSON
Favourite Band, Duo Or Group - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Favourite Album: ALL THE RIGHT REASONS by NICKELBACK

COUNTRY
Favourite Male Artist - TOBY KEITH
Favourite Female Artist - FAITH HILL
Favourite Band, Duo Or Group - RASCAL FLATTS
Favourite Album - GREATEST HITS, VOL 2 by TIM McGRAW

SOUL/R&B
Favourite Male Artist - JAMIE FOXX
Favourite Female Artist - MARY J BLIGE
Favourite Band, Duo Or Group - BLACK EYED PEAS
Favourite Album - THE BREAKTHROUGH by MARY J BLIGE

RAP/HIP-HOP
Favourite Male Artist - EMINEM
Favourite Band, Duo Or Group - BLACK EYED PEAS
Favourite Album - MONKEY BUSINESS - BLACK EYED PEAS

ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Favourite Artist - KELLY CLARKSON

ALTERNATIVE
Favourite Artist -
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

LATIN
Favourite Artist - SHAKIRA

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Favourite Artist - KIRK FRANKLIN

Favourite New Breakthrough Artist - CARRIE UNDERWOOD.
.