`Nu am primit niciodata atat de multe premii. Imi amintesc ca au fost timpuri in care fanii mei plangeau sau erau tristi. Acum, incercam sa ne ridicam reciproc si sa ne acceptam asa cum suntem, chiar daca nimeni altcineva nu o mai face` a declarat Blige.
Starleta Carrie Underwood si rapper-ul din Atlanta T.I. au castigat cate 5 premii fiecare, T.I. dominand categoria rap, unde si-a trecut in cont titlul de cel mai bun artist rap si cel mai bun album (`King`).
Chris Brown a castigat premiul pentru cel mai bun tanar artist, dar si titlurile de cel mai bun artist al anului si `male artist of the year`. Rockerii Nickelback au plecat acasa cu 3 statuete: duo/grupul anului, albumul rock al anului (`All the Right Reasons`) si duo/grupul Hot 100.
The Fray au dominat la categoria digital cu trei premii, printre care cel mai bun album digital. Cvartetul a avut si o reprezentatie live cu single-ului `How to Save a Life` (devenit si mai cunoscut prin includerea lui in coloana sonora a dramei ABC - `Gray’s Anatomy`).
Rihanna si-a insusit titlul de artista anului, cea mai buna artista Hot 100, dar si cel de artistul Pop 100. `Nu-mi pot simti picioarele – este fenomenal` si-a manifestat bucuria solista.
Nelly Furtado, Kenny Chesney, Three Days Grace si soundtrack-ul Disney `High School Musical` au luat cate un premiu fiecare. Tony Bennett a primit distinctia Billboard Century Award de la prietenul sau Stevie Wonder
`Wonder` este unul dintre cei mai buni cantareti de jazz din lume` a spus Bennett cu modestie. Veteranul jazz in varsta de 80 de ani a atins anul acesta cea mai inalta pozitie a sa in topul Billboard 200 (locul 3) cu `Duets: An American Classic` (RPM/Columbia).
In deschiderea evenimentului Janet Jackson a interpretat `Pleasure Principle` si `So Excited`. Alaturi de ea au mai avut reprezentatii live Fergie insotia de colegul de la Black Eyed Peas – will.i.am, Ludacris si Pharell (`Money Maker`) si Young Jeezy (`I Luv It`). Blige a interpretat `Enough Cryin` si `Take Me As I Am`, iar Gwen Stefani – `Wind It Up`.
Au prezentat printre altii Akon, Danity Kane, Jesse McCartney, Bow Wow, Dave Navarro, Big & Rich sau Paula Abdul.
Finalistii si castigatorii Billboard Music Awards sunt alesi in functie de prezenta lor in topurile Billboard, dar si in functie de vanzarile realizate sau audienta radio (conform Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems).
Iata lista completa a castigatorilor:
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.
