Old is Gold at Billboard Awards

Old is definitely gold when it comes to music, but the upcoming ones are somewhere in that league too. While a 35 year old R&B diva stamped her authority all over again with her comeback album, a 17 year old sent out the message that he is here to stay too.

The top honor of Artist of the Year was bagged by 17 year old Chris Brown. That was not all, he added the New Artist of the year and Male Artist awards also to his winnings. It sure was a big day for him as he commented before the show that “It feels great, I certainly don't feel my age.” After the awards wonder what all he could not feel, not even the ground we suppose.

Rihanna faced a similar problem, the 18 year old hottie from Barbados could not feel her legs as she accepted the best female artist of the year award. Sure was a big moment for her as she edged out seasoned players like Blige and Beyonce for the top slot and she was aware of it saying that it was phenomenal for her to win in such a tough category.

After debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts in December 2005 and selling 2.6 million copies till date, Mary J. Blige's comeback album, 'The Breakthrough' only made her smile bigger. The R&B diva picked up, not one, not two but nine awards breaking right through the entire R&B category.

The 35 year old artist hauled in R&B/Hip-Hop artist and female R&B/Hip-Hop artist, her album knocked in awards for R&B album and R&B/Hip-Hop album. Her single "Be Without You" delivered the awards for Hot 100 airplay song, R&B/Hip-Hop Song, R&B/Hip-Hop song airplay, and video clip. Blige was also named R&B/Hip-Hop songs artist.

Carrie Underwood the ‘American Idol’ winner let her crossover country music do the talking for her and roped in five awards for her act. ‘Some Hearts’, her album, received top honors in both country album and album of the year. Then she put the icing on her cake by walking away with the female country artist of the year and the new country artist of the year awards. The female top 200 album artist also went her way.

The rapper T.I. was another artist who walked off with five awards. He dominated the rap category taking away rap artist of the year and rap album of the year for his chart topping album King, which was out in March this year. The other three awards for the Atlanta rapper were for the best rap album artist, best rap song artist and also for best videoclips artist.

Canadian rockers, Nickelback ‘All the Right Reasons,’ won rock album of the year and artist-duo/group of the year. Nickelback, who had five nominations, also performed on stage with Kid Rock and ZZ Top on ‘Looking for some Touch.’

The rock band Fray also picked up three awards, for their album ‘How to Save a Life’. Digital songs artist and digital album artist also went their way.

Tony Bennett was honoured with the Billboard Century Award, a lifetime achievement award. Bennett timed his release of Duets: An American Classic — featuring Bono, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand and other musical big-timers — to his 80th birthday. The September release has become the best-selling album of his 50-plus-year recording career.

Earlier, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears who were reported to be the hosts of the evening were no where in sight and the show went on without any host. The presenters doing some filling in at times. The show kicked off with Janet Jackson performing (without any wardrobe malfunction) on her 1980s classic, The Pleasure Principle, mixed into So Excited, a single from her 2006 comeback album, 20 Y.O.

Blige rocked the house with a medley of her 'Enough Crying' and 'Take me as I am'. Gwen Stefani and Black Eyed Peas lead singer Fergie, both with solo efforts this year, were amongst the other performers.

Complete list of 2006 Billboard Music Awards winners:

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