Usher big winner at music awards

LOS ANGELES — R&B sensation Usher won all his show-leading four nominations at the American Music Awards on Sunday, and rap funksters OutKast went three-for-three.

"This one is actually for my hometown," Usher said as he picked up his third award of the night, for "Confessions" as best pop-rock album. "If they didn't raise me right I wouldn't have been able to develop into the artist that I am."

Usher also won for favorite male soul-R&B artist, best pop-rock artist 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 favorite pop-rock band, favorite rap-hip-hop album and best rap-hip-hop group.

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

Brooks & Dunn earned their fourth award for favorite country band. Toby Keith won awards for favorite country male artist and best country album.

"A lot of work went into this project," Keith said of his album "Shock'n Y'All." "This is cool."

Sheryl Crow beat out Avril Lavigne and Jessica Simpson for the favorite female pop-rock artist award and received the prize for favorite adult contemporary artist. Rockers Linkin Park scored the favorite alternative music artist for the second year in a row.

Country singer Kenny Chesney said he was surprised to win a publicly voted award for favorite performer.

"I really didn't think anybody was going to beat Usher tonight," Chesney said.

Shortly before the start of the telecast, producer Dick Clark announced rapper Jay-Z won favorite male artist in the rap-hip-hop category. Singer Marc Anthony won favorite Latin music artist, and the group MercyMe won best contemporary inspirational artist.

The show was heavy on performances, some of them censored with words cut out, although a few presenters got away with racy material.

Gwen Stefani, stepping out without No Doubt, opened the show wearing a short, ruffled dress and white stockings and flanked by dancers singing to "What You Waiting For?" Lenny Kravitz, clad in a black trenchcoat and tie, hair cropped short, followed performing "Lady."