OutKast, Usher Win Big at AMA

The night’s top nominee, R&B; sensation Usher, won all four of his awards at the American Music Awards on Sunday, and rap funksters OutKast went 3-for-3 during a performance-studded, occasionally censored, broadcast ceremony.

Usher took home favorite male soul-R&B; artist, best pop-rock artist, best soul-R&B; album and best pop album for “Confessions,” which sold more than 1 million copies in its debut week.

Nominees were chosen on the basis of record sales, with winners selected by a survey of about 20,000 listeners. During performances at the Shrine Auditorium, ABC broadcasters used a tape delay to censor some racy words.

OutKast, the Grammy winners whose album “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” spawned the mega-hit “Hey Ya!” won 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. Sheryl Crow won for favorite female pop-rock artist and for favorite adult contemporary artist. For the second year in a row, rockers Linkin Park scored the favorite alternative music artist award.

Brooks & Dunn earned their fourth award for favorite country band. Toby Keith won awards for favorite country male artist and best country album. Country artists Gretchen Wilson won best new artist and Kenny Chesney took home the publicly voted award for favorite performer.