No-Host Billboards Are Much O-Bliged

On an evening when no one officially presided over the Billboard Music Awards, Mary J. Blige was crowned Queen of the Night.

The Breakthrough songstress scored a leading nine trophies Monday, including R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year and R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year for the smash hit single "Be Without You."

"I've realized if I don't [love] myself, nobody will," the 35-year-old singer told reporters after the ceremony at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena. "Nobody is going to love me more than I do."

Plenty of people love her, nevertheless. Blige actually bagged four of her awards based on the success of "Be Without You" alone. Because the Billboard Awards recognizes the year's top chart performers (and there are oh-so-many charts), it's not only easy to predict the winners, but each song, album and artist is eligible for an array of categories as well.

Blige's Breakthrough, for instance, has moved more than 2.6 million copies to date, and "Be Without You" sat atop the R&B singles chart for a record 15 consecutive weeks. Hence, many awards that may sound the same (i.e., R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and R&B Album Artist of the Year) are actually different.

A midriff-bearing, turtleneck-wearing Janet Jackson kicked off the two-hour televised portion of the evening with a performance that combined her '80s-era hit "The Pleasure Principle" with "So Excited," a single from her latest effort, 20 Y.O.

Then, perhaps taking a dig at the night's no-show hostesses (Paris Hilton pulled out three days ago, Britney Spears last week), an announcer intoned, "Here's someone whose personal business has been exposed throughout the world."

And just when you thought Spears might appear after all, Kid Rock walked out to get the award presentations rolling. (Later on, the same witty announcer said that a special performance by Kevin Federline was coming up next; producers then cut to a clip from one of those '60s-era sci-fi films—the one where everyone flees the theater, screaming).

Rounding out Blige's royal court with five honors apiece were King purveyor T.I., who swept all four rap categories and was named Video Clips Artist of the Year, as well as New Country Artist of the Year Carrie Underwood, whose debut effort, Some Hearts, also won Album of the Year.

(Whether or not she did it because of her close proximity to presenter Paula Abdul, Underwood did not forget to thank American Idol for putting her on the road to Billboard success.)

Seventeen-year-old Chris Brown continued to have a good 2006, capping off his breakthrough year with three wins, including New Artist of the Year and the evening's top prize, Artist of the Year.

Not in need of an "S.O.S." tonight were three-time winner Rihanna, who was named Female Artist of the Year, and "How to Save a Life" band The Fray, whose Grey's Anatomy airplay helped them sweep all three awards recognizing digital sales performance.

"I really can't feel my legs, this is phenomenal," Rihanna said.

Nickelback also tripled its pleasure, bagging Duo/Group of the Year, Hot 100 Artists Duo/Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year honors for All the Right Reasons.

Tony Bennett, who at 80 had the best chart performance of his career this year with his star-studded Duets: An American Classic album, was presented with the 2006 Century Award by fellow music icon Stevie Wonder.

"I've been doing this for 50—well, I guess it's 60 years now," the "Rags to Riches" crooner said. "The way you've treated me tonight, I want to sing for another 60 years."

Duets vocalist Celine Dion had been scheduled to perform and do the honors for Bennett, but she had to cancel last week due to illness—not because she objected to the jokes in the show's script.

To make up for the lack of Hilton, presenter Chris Kattan deadpanned "that's hot" at least four times while handing out his award.

The night's other performers included Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Blige, Ludacris (who teamed up with Pharrell Williams and Young Jeezy) and the impromptu trio of Nickelback, Kid Rock (a last-minute add) and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, who rocked out to "Looking for Some Touch."

Meanwhile, though The Killers were on hand to present the final award of the evening, Artist of the Year, along with Courtney Love, they backed out of performing because frontman Brandon Flowers was ill.

Here's a complete list of 2006's Billboard Award winners:

• Artist of the Year: Chris Brown
• Male Artist: Chris Brown
• Female Artist: Rihanna
• Duo/Group: Nickelback
• New Artist: Chris Brown
• Female Billboard 200 Artist of the Year: Carrie Underwood
• Album of the Year: Some Hearts, Carrie Underwood
• Hot 100 Artists Duo/Group: Nickelback
• Hot 100 Airplay Song: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
• Female Hot 100 Artist: Rihanna
• Pop 100 Artist: Rihanna
• R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Mary J. Blige
• R&B/Hip-Hop Album: The Breakthrough, Mary J. Blige
• R&B/Hip-Hop Song: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
• R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist: Mary J. Blige
• R&B Album Artist: Mary J. Blige
• R&B/Hip-Hop Song Airplay: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
• Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist: Mary J. Blige
• Video Clip: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige
• Rap Artist of the Year: T.I.
• Rap Album Artist of the Year: T.I.
• Rap Album: King, T.I.
• Rap Songs Artist: T.I.
• Video Clips Artist: T.I.
• Country Album: Some Hearts, Carrie Underwood
• Female Country Artist: Carrie Underwood
• Male Country Artist: Kenny Chesney
• New Country Artist: Carrie Underwood
• Country Songs Artist: Kenny Chesney
• Rock Single: "Animal I Have Become," Three Days Grace
• Rock Album: All the Right Reasons, Nickelback
• Pop Single: "Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
• Digital Album: How to Save a Life, The Fray
• Digital Songs Artist: The Fray
• Digital Album Artist: The Fray
• Soundtrack Album: High School Musical