\nHe was also named favorite male artist in both the soul\/R&B and pop\/rock categories. His girlfriend, Rihanna, won those categories for the women, beating Keys in both races.
\nKeys’ awards were for her chart-topping disc, “As I Am,” which was named favorite album in the soul\/R&B and pop\/rock categories. Behind Keys in the nominees list were British rock band Coldplay and American country-rock veterans the Eagles, who both went home empty-handed.
\nOther multiple winners included outspoken rapper Kanye West, who has never been afraid to express his dismay when he is overlooked at awards shows. He won the first two American Music Awards of his career, but said he would give one of them away to fellow nominee, Lil Wayne.
\nEarlier, he won for the statuette for favorite rap\/hip-hop album with “Graduation.” West challenged musicians of all genres to push each other, and to reclaim the spirit of artists like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. In his case, he declared, “I wanna be Elvis!”
\nKimmel also took a dig at addiction-plagued rocker Scott Weiland, who had to struggle to introduce a performer. Kimmel suggested that Disney starlet Miley Cyrus.
\nAmong the first-time winners were Taylor Swift, current holder of the No. 1 spot on the U.S. pop album chart with her album “Fearless.” She appeared to be the only shocked person in the Nokia Theater room when she was named favorite female country singer. “It’s an honor that you even care about the songs I wrote in my bedroom,” said the 18-year-old star. Another country star, Brad Paisley, was also a first-time winner, in the genre’s favorite male artist category.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"