Destiny's Child, Tim McGraw win American Music Awards

LOS ANGELES -- Newcomer Alicia Keys and soul divas Destiny's Child won two American Music Awards Wednesday night, while singer Aaliyah was posthumously honored as favorite female soul artist.

"We accept this award on behalf of Aaliyah. Everybody stand up," singer Ginuwine said, commanding a somber standing ovation for the singer killed last summer in a plane crash.

Keys, whose debut disc "Songs in A Minor" was one of last year's top sellers, was named favorite new pop artist and favorite new soul artist.

"This has been a fantastic year," said Keys, whose soulful hit, "Fallin'," dominated the airwaves over the summer. The New Yorker led the way with five AMA nominations.

The awards are a popularity contest based on music sales. India.Arie, who received seven Grammy nominations last week, was shut out of the AMAs.

Destiny's Child, wearing matching brown suede, beat out 'N Sync and the Dave Matthews Band for favorite pop album. The trio was also named favorite soul group.

Country's husband-and-wife team have matching new trophies. Tim McGraw won favorite country album for "Set This Circus Down," and Faith Hill won favorite female country artist.

This year's ceremony had a racy tone: it featured Dick Clark wearing a dress, a bleeped expletive by host Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and a lewd reference by Janet Jackson to Lenny Kravitz's anatomy.

Most of the night's attention was focused on someone who isn't even among the nominees.

Michael Jackson was scheduled to perform at the ceremony and accept the AMA's "Artist of the Century Award." Whether Jackson would appear at all prompted AMA producer Clark to sue the man in charge of the Grammys for $10 million in December.

Country singer Garth Brooks was given an Award of Merit for his career.