‘Emancipation’ achieved, if not rewarded

Mariah Carey may have called her recent career comeback a “beautiful dream,” but Wednesday night turned into a recurring nightmare as she wound up empty-handed again and again in the top categories.

Up for eight awards -- more than any other female nominee -- the numbers were in her favor. But in the end, her three wins didn’t even include female pop vocal performance, which went to “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson.

Despite her losses, Carey was the sentimental favorite; she brought the Grammy crowd to its feet with her gospel take on “Fly Like a Bird.” Almost predicting her coming defeat at nomination time, the pop chanteuse had voiced doubt about her chances of even being considered for album of the year. (The award went to U2. In his acceptance speech, Bono said, “Mariah, you sing like an angel, really something else.”)

Returning from pop culture oblivion to near ubiquity on MTV and pop radio, her 2005 CD, “The Emancipation of Mimi,” became the year’s bestselling album and has sold 5.2 million copies. She became the first artist after the Beatles to have the No. 1 and 2 songs on the American pop chart in the same week.

Her ’05 victory lap also included a clean sweep of four trophies at November’s Vibe Awards, another statuette at the American Music Awards and five Billboard Music Awards in December.