Usher sweeps US music awards

R&B SENSATION Usher won four awards at the American Music Awards yesterday, while rap funksters OutKast went three-for-three during a performance-studded, occasionally-censored ceremony.

“Thank you for this moment. Thank you for this year,” Usher said after he had picked up his last award of the night. “It’s been amazing.”

Usher won the awards for favourite male soul-R&B artist, best pop-rock artist, best pop-rock album and best soul-R&B album for Confessions, which sold more than 1 million copies in its debut week.

OutKast, the Grammy winners whose album Speakerboxxx-The Love Below spawned the mega-hit Hey Ya! took home awards for favourite pop-rock band, favourite rap-hip-hop album and best rap-hip-hop group.

In his acceptance remarks, OutKast’s Big Boi paid tribute to Wu-Tang Clan member ODB, who collapsed and died inside a New York recording studio on Saturday. The rapper’s cause of death was not immediately clear.

“Rest in peace,” Big Boi said. “We love you.”

Soul diva Alicia Keys won favourite female artist in the soul-R&B category, edging out Janet Jackson and Beyoncé.

Sheryl Crow beat out Avril Lavigne and Jessica Simpson for the favourite female pop-rock artist award and received the prize for favourite adult contemporary artist.

Rockers Linkin Park scored the favourite alternative music artist for the second year in a row.

Nominees were chosen on the basis of record sales, with winners selected by a survey of 20,000 listeners.