News / Entertainment
No Britney Spears, No Paris Hilton, No Problem; 2006 Billboard Music Awards Rock On
With late exits from scheduled co-hosts Britney Spears and Paris Hilton threatening to steal the show, the 2006 Billboard Music Awards turned to what they had left and it proved to be more than enough to keep fans happy.
Strong performances from Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Nickelback, Gwen Stefani, and Fergie kept things rocking at the awards show that honors the artists who have topped the charts through record sales and airplay.
Blige’s legs were tired by the end of the night, having to walk to the stage nine times to pick up awards for her album, “The Breakthrough.” The 35-year-old was presented with awards for R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, Female R&B Artist of the Year, and R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year.
“American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood continued her dominance in the country music world, grabbing honors for Country Artist of the Year, Country Female Artist of the Year, and Country Album of the Year for “Some Hearts”. Underwood’s fame crossed the music divide and earned her Album of the Year as well.
Female Artist of the Year went to 18-year-old Rihanna. Accepting the award, the teenager from Barbados said “I really can't feel my legs, this is phenomenal.”
The teenage trend continued with Chris Brown, the 17-year-old took home awards for Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.
Tony Bennett was given Billboard’s life time achievement award, the Billboard Century Award.
Artist of the year
Chris Brown
Nickelback
Rascal Flatts
Male artist of the year
Chris Brown
Ne-Yo
Sean Paul
Female artist of the year
Beyonce
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
Duo/group of the year
Nickelback
The Pussycat Dolls
Rascal Flatts
New artist of the year
Chris Brown
The Fray
Ne-Yo
Album of the year
"All the Right Reasons," Nickelback
"High School Musical" soundtrack, Various Artists
"Some Hearts," Carrie Underwood
Hot 100 single of the year
"Bad Day," Daniel Powter
"Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
"Temperature," Sean Paul
Pop single of the year
"Hips Don't Lie," Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
"Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
"Temperature," Sean Paul
Soundtrack album of the year
"Get Rich or Die Tryin'"
"High School Musical"
"Walk the Line"
R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year
Mary J. Blige
Jamie Foxx
T.I.
Male R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year
Jamie Foxx
Ne-Yo
T.I.
Female R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year
Beyonce
Mary J. Blige
Mariah Carey
R&B/Hip-Hop album of the year
"The Breakthrough," Mary J. Blige
"King," T.I.
"Unpredictable," Jamie Foxx
R&B/Hip-Hop single of the year
"Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
"So Sick," Ne-Yo
"Unpredictable," Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris
Rap artist of the year
Sean Paul
T.I.
Yung Joc
Rap album of the year
"Tha Carter II," Lil Wayne
"Curtain Call: The Hits," Eminem
"King," T.I.
Country artist of the year
Kenny Chesney
Rascal Flatts
Carrie Underwood
Male country artist of the year
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Female country artist of the year
Faith Hill
Carrie Underwood
Gretchen Wilson
Country album of the year
"Me and My Gang," Rascal Flatts
"Some Hearts," Carrie Underwood
"The Road and the Radio," Kenny Chesney
Rock artist of the year
Disturbed
Nickelback
Shinedown
Rock single of the year
"Animal I Have Become," Three Days Grace
"Dani California," Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Speak," Godsmack
Rock album of the year
"All the Right Reasons," Nickelback
"Back to Bedlam," James Blunt
"Stadium Arcadium," Red Hot Chili Peppers
