Call it musical “Smackdown.”
The 2000 Billboard Music Awards featured some of the rowdiest wrestling and name-calling not associated with the WWF. And that’s just from the hosts.
Held Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and hosted by ‘N Sync and actress Kathy Griffin, the telecast kicked off with the pep-rally cattle call “Who Let the Dogs Out” performed by the Baha Men and soon turned into an episodic comedy with some well-engineered face-offs.
Britney Spears charged the stage to rescue her boyfriend, ‘N Sync’s Justin Timberlake, from Griffin‘s clutches (Griffin‘s joke throughout the evening was deciding which member she would hook up with). To Timberlake’s delight, the host and the pop princess wound up exchanging choice names such as “skank” and “bee-atch.”
While more wrestling among ‘N Sync members ensued, Sisqo quietly walked away with the most trophies of the evening, including Male Artist of the Year and Male Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year. Since Billboard likes to award all its winners’ trophies at once, audiences didn’t have to see the “Thong Song” singer troop to the podium six times.
Destiny’s Child, who still hold the No. 1 song on the charts with “Independent Women Part I,” took the night’s highest honor, Artist of the Year. The shocked trio, who were also awarded three other trophies for their multi-platinum album, “The Writing’s on the Wall,” and four Top 5 singles in one year, were shaking as they received their prize and sang an impromptu chorus of “Amen” during their speech.
“We thought, ‘We can’t possibly win Artist of the Year — it’s the biggest award of the night,” said lead singer Beyoncé Knowles afterward. “They said ‘Destiny’s Child.’ It was, ‘Oh my God,’ it was so weird. We’re so excited and blessed and happy.”
The evening featured performances by four-time Billboard winners Destiny’s Child, Dixie Chicks and ‘N Sync; three-time recipients Faith Hill and 3 Doors Down; Creed, named Rock Artists of the Year, and Mystikal and Ricky Martin.
A bevy of artists turned out as presenters, including Brian McKnight, Rob Thomas of matchbox TWENTY, 98 Degrees, BBMak, Sheryl Crow and others.
Randy Newman was given the Century Award for being the most “underappreciated, misunderstood songwriter in America,” according Don Henley. Newman’s repertoire includes songs like “Short People,” “I Love L.A.” and 13 Oscar nominations for his film scores, most recently for “Toy Story 2.”
The awards are based on year-end stats from Billboard Magazine from December 1999 to December 2000.
Here’s the list of winners:
Artist of the Year: Destiny’s Child Male Artist of the Year: Sisqo Female Artist of the Year: Christina Aguilera Duo/Group of the Year: Destiny’s Child New Artist of the Year: Sisqo New Artist of the Year, Female: Pink New Group of the Year: 3 Doors Down
Album of the Year: “No Strings Attached,” ‘N Sync Albums Artist of the Year: Britney Spears Albums Artist of the Year, Duo/Group: ‘N Sync
Hot 100 Single of the Year: “Breathe,” Faith Hill Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year: Destiny’s Child Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year, Female: Faith Hill Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year, Male: Sisqo Hot 100 Singles Duo/Group of the Year: Destiny’s Child Hot 100 Songwriter of the Year: Rob Thomas
Top 40 Artist of the Year: ‘N Sync Adult Top 40 Track of the Year: “Everything You Want,” Vertical Horizon Adult Top 40 Artist of the Year: Vertical Horizon
R&B/Hip Hop Artist of the Year: Sisqo R&B/Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Female: Toni Braxton R&B/Hip Hop Singles Artist of the Year, Male: Sisqo New R&B/Hip Hop Artist of the Year: Sisqo R&B/Hip Hop Airplay Track: “I Wanna Know,” Joe
Country Artist of the Year: Dixie Chicks Country Artist of the Year, Female: Faith Hill Country Artist of the Year, Duo/Group: Dixie Chicks Country Album Artist of the Year: Dixie Chicks Country Album of the Year: “Fly,” Dixie Chicks
Rock Artist of the Year: Creed Rock Track of the Year: “Kryptonite,” 3 Doors Down Modern Rock Track of the Year: “Kryptonite,” 3 Doors Down
World Music Artist of the Year: Baha Men World Music Album of the Year: “Who Let The Dogs Out,” Baha Men
Latin Tracks Artist of the Year: Son By Four Latin Track of the Year: “A Puro Dolor,” Son By Four Latin Pop Track of the Year: “A Puro Dolor,” Son By Four Tropical/Salsa Track of the Year: “A Puro Dolor,” Son By Four
Special Billboard Award for biggest one week sales ever of an album (2.4 million units sold): “No Strings Attached,” ‘N Sync
Special Billboard Award for biggest one week sales of an album ever by a Female Artist (1.3 million units sold): “Oops! … I Did It Again,” Britney Spears
Century Award: Randy Newman
