Pop diva Mariah Carey, who went into the night with a leading four nominations, was honored only a single time, in the favorite soul/R&B female artist category – but from the opening moments of the show it looked as if she might win them all, Reuters reports.
"Thank you so much for the warmth and the love," Carey told the audience after accepting the evening's first award moments after opening the show.
Carey received her award right after performing "Don't Forget About Us" and quickly slipping into an evening gown. But it would be the last time her name was called. Carey is in the midst of a stunning comeback following a career-battering album and movie flop, and a buyout of her contract by her previous record company.
While her current album, The Emancipation of Mimi, has reportedly sold 7 million copies worldwide and sparked the hit "We Belong Together," the 20,000 music fans who vote on AMA winners were only willing to give Carey so much.
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Among the groups who also scored big were pop-punk rockers Green Day, whose album, American Idiot, won in the pop/rock category, and the Black Eyed Peas, who won the favorite group award in the pop/rock and rap/hip-hop categories. Destiny's Child took home awards in the soul/R&B category for favorite group and album.
The show was hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and featured performances by Kenny Chesney, Sheryl Crow, Hilary Duff, the Eurythmics, Lindsay Lohan, the Rolling Stones, and others.
