Ashanti and Nelly among winners at Billboard Awards

R&B newcomer Ashanti made an impressive debut at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas last night, carrying off eight awards.

Rapper Nelly won honours in six categories, and the album of the year went to Eminem for The Eminem Show.

Ashanti, 22, was named the year’s top female artist, R&B/hip-hop artist and female R&B/hip-hop artist. She also picked up awards for her single Foolish.

“It’s definitely an honour,” she said. “It took me such a long time to get me to where I am. I’m just really blessed and thankful.”

Nelly was named 2002’s top artist, top male artist and R&B/hip-hop artist.

He also won honours for his song Hot in Herre, which he performed after emerging onstage from a massive replica of a stainless steel oven with flames shooting out of its burners.

Puddle of Mud became the first group to sweep all four rock awards since U2 did it in 1992 by winning artist of the year, top rock track for Blurry, modern rock artist and modern rock track.

Nickelback picked up four awards, including the hot 100 single of the year for How You Remind Me.

“I think it was not until it really started climbing up the charts. We all sort of went, ‘Hey I think we can stop flipping burgers,”’ lead singer Chad Kroeger said.

The Eminem Show is the Detroit rapper’s third disc. In winning, Eminem beat Nelly’s Nellyville, Creed’s Weathered and Pink’s M!ssundaztood.

The Billboard Awards honour the year’s chart-topping artists. The show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena began with a performance by 17-year-old Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, who had one of the year’s biggest hits, Complicated.

Other performers included Faith Hill, Justin Timberlake and Creed, who sang from on top of the Stratosphere hotel-casino.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler presented Cher with an achievement award, and comedian Chris Tucker gave a special Thriller award for Michael Jackson, who accepted the honour by satellite.

“I thank all the people who appreciate my work,” Jackson said.

Tyler joined rap stars, including Nelly, Busta Rhymes and Ja Rule, in a tribute to Run-DMC. The pioneering hip-hop group disbanded last month after DJ Jam Master Jay was shot dead in his recording studio in Queens, New York.

“I think Run-DMC’s greatest achievement was its longevity,” said a tearful Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.

Ashanti, whose singles Foolish and Happy made her a soul sensation this year, has already been honoured as entertainer of the year at the Lady of Soul Awards. She leads the American Music Award nominations with five. Those will be announced on January 13.

The Billboard Awards are determined by the magazine’s year-end chart listings, which are based on record sales and airplay. Winners in several categories will not be announced until later this month.

:: The 2002 Billboard Music Awards Winners

Album: The Eminem Show, Eminem.

Hot 100 single: How You Remind Me, Nickelback.

Artist: Nelly.

Group/duo: Creed.

Male artist: Nelly.

Female artist: Ashanti.

New pop artist: Ashanti.

R&B/hip-hop artist: Ashanti.

New R&B/hip-hop artist: Ashanti.

Hot 100 singles group/duo: Nickelback.

Top 40 track: How You Remind Me, Nickelback.

Hot 100 airplay single: How You Remind Me, Nickelback.

Hot 100 singles artist: Ashanti.

Hot 100 singles male artist: Nelly.

R&B/hip-hop singles artist: Ashanti.

R&B/hip-hop album: The Eminem Show, Eminem.

R&B/hip-hop single: Foolish, Ashanti.

R&B/hip-hop single sales: Uh Huh, B2K.

R&B/hip-hop male artist: Nelly.

R&B/hip-hop female artist: Ashanti.

Country singles artist: Toby Keith.

Rock artist: Puddle of Mud.

Rock track: Blurry, Puddle of Mud.

Modern rock artist: Puddle of Mud.

Modern rock track: Blurry, Puddle of Mud.

Group/duo albums artist: Creed.

Catalogue artist: Creed.

Catalogue album: Human Clay, Creed.

Rap artist: Nelly.

Rap track: Hot in Herre, Nelly.

Electronic album: 18, Moby.

Electronic albums artist: Moby.

Artist achievement award: Cher.

Century Award for creative achievement: Annie Lennox.