June 11, 2008 4:58 PM

Britney Pops In At American Music Awards

(CBS/AP)  Britney Spears dropped in unannounced Tuesday at the 2006 American Music Awards.

The "new bachelorette," as host Jimmy Kimmel called her, presented the very first award to Mary J. Blige for favorite female soul/R&B artist.

Before Britney came out, a Kevin Federline look-alike was lowered from the ceiling, packed up in a storage crate, and then carted off stage.

A video was shown of the "K-Fed crate" being put on a truck, driven to a dock, and tossed into the water.

"A whole school of fish just got pregnant," quipped Kimmel.

Beyonce was the opening performer on the show, strutting onstage in a bronze and silver striped micro-mini. She was followed by a very sophisticated looking Carrie Underwood, who sang a medley of her songs.

There's no pretense of the AMAs being a "serious" awards show. The winners aren't selected by industry peers or a panel of critics.

Instead, it's a true popularity contest, with the nominees determined by their record sales and the winners chosen by the public.

The categories have changed over the years, following shifts in musical tastes. This year the nominees competed for a total of 20 awards in Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues, Rap/Hip-Hop, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Latin, and Contemporary Inspirational.

Photos from the show, red carpet and backstage.
Fashion Police: American Music Awards

Mariah Carey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas and Nickelback led the list of nominees with three nods apiece.

The Peas went three for three, winning favorite rap/hip-hop duo or group, favorite R&B/soul duo or group, and favorite rap/hip-hop album for "Monkey Business." They accepted their awards via satellite from Costa Rica where they're performing this week.

Red Hot Chili Peppers won awards for favorite pop/rock duo or group and favorite alternative artist. The group also accepted via satellite, from London.

Nickelback won one award, and Carey went home empty-handed.

Other multiple winners included Kelly Clarkson for favorite pop/rock female artist and favorite adult contemporary artist; Mary J. Blige for favorite soul/R&B female artist and favorite soul/R&B album; and Rascal Flatts for favorite country duo or group and the T-Mobile Text-In award, voted on by the fans.

Some of the awards, like Shakira's for favorite Latin artist, were announced prior to the telecast.

Country singer Carrie Underwood beat out rapper Chamillionaire and the Pussycat Dolls for favorite breakthrough artist.

Jamie Foxx won his first American Music Award, for favorite male soul/R&B artist. Accepting his award, he sent a "shout out" to his biological mother seated in the audience. He added that he hadn't seen her in several years.

Later on the show, Foxx got a standing ovation for his heartfelt performance of "Wish U Were Here," a song about his late grandmother.

Now in its 34th year, the awards are the brainchild of TV and radio legend Dick Clark, who produced the show for more than three decades. Clark, who is still recovering from a 2004 stroke, said he almost considers it one of his children.

"I watch it," said Clark of the event, which among other things is a showcase for artists promoting their latest music. "Sure, I'm interested. I created that thing 34 years ago. You can't just dismiss it (from your life)."

See next page for more details and a full list of winners.



© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add a Comment
by cubbey November 22, 2006 11:54 PM EST
What was that groovy dance song just before gwen stefani? Tha whole band wore white.
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by ladycascadia November 22, 2006 6:13 PM EST
I tuned the the awards...and promptly shut it off! Since when does watching people wearing next to nothing and moving around like they're prostitutes constitute talent??? I've got better things to do with my time than waste it on that trash...
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by loveplayaboy November 22, 2006 1:47 PM EST
Is it me or are Britney's boobs bigger?
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by missyj1964 November 22, 2006 1:03 PM EST
Has anyone else noticed that Brit's hair grows back remarkably fast? She needs to lose the long hair. She looked like a mermaid.
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by bob_burd November 22, 2006 2:38 AM EST
Actually it has been established that it really WAS Fed-Ex in the crate which was dumped at sea.

It was noted that a school of hammerhead sharks which had been lurking in the area quickly hightailed it and left the area without partaking in their customary feeding frenzy, giving further indisputable scientific proof of their incredible powers of smell.

Selah
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by themartyred November 22, 2006 1:29 AM EST
who asked britney there? I didn't... lol. and that was a tad overboard (get it?) what they did to "k-fed".
www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable
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by themartyred November 22, 2006 1:28 AM EST
kirk franklin representin'! sho nuff...

Casting was probably more "deserving", but any winner in that category doesn't care about the prize if they're a inspirational singer.
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