34th Annual American Music Awards (2006)

Welcome to our coverage of the 2006 American Music Awards ceremony which took place on November 21st, 2006. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the AMAs pay tribute to music in eight different genres.

8:00 PM ET

The show starts with a performance by Beyoncé.

8:04 PM ET

Without missing a beat we segue into another performance, where former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood sings a medley of her three country #1's.

8:10 PM ET

Host Jimmy Kimmel comes out. "Snoop Dogg has been arrested at three airports in seven months. He keeps forgetting you can't smoke pot at the airport because, well, he keeps smoking pot at the airport."

"K-Fed has sold 8,000 copies of his album. Only ten were purchased non-ironically." They then lower a Kevin Federline lookalike into a crate and dump it into the ocean.

8:15 PM ET

After they diss her soon to be ex, a gum-smacking Britney Spears strolls out to present the night's first award: Soul/R&B Female. And the AMA goes to Mary J. Blige. It's her third time winning an AMA. 8:16pm gets us the night's first shout out to God.

8:21 PM ET

The Disney Channel's Cheetah Girls handle the hardware tossing chores for Pop/Rock Favorite Album. And the AMA goes to Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons". It's their first AMA. They say it's unexpected and their speech is short and sweet.

8:24 PM ET

Kimmel says "I predict Jamie Foxx will go home with two AMAs and three Pussycat Dolls."

8:25 PM ET

Speaking of the Dolls, Tony Hawk introduces a performance by the group. One of the Dolls is having a bad night as she keeps messing up her steps.

8:29 PM ET

Josh Groban performs next. Man, you could probably have dental surgery without being put under listening to this guy.

8:38 PM ET

Gee, must be an ABC hosted show as the cast of High School Musical stumble through some bad comedy before presenting the AMA for Rap/Hip-Hop Band, Duo or Group. And the AMA goes to The Black Eyed Peas. We get the band from Costa Rica, where they're doing a concert. 8:40 and we get our first Michael Richards joke as Kimmel says "Kramer from Seinfeld calls them The Afro-American Eyed Peas."

8:40 PM ET

Aly & AJ and Mario Lopez introduce a performance of "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado. Another sleep-inducing performance.

8:45 PM ET

JC Chasez and JoJo present the AMA for Rap/Hip-Hop Favorite Male Artist. The winner is Eminem. He's not there and the duo are finished their presenting duties in less than 60 seconds.

8:49 PM ET

Kimmel welcomes Snoop into the audience. He then introduces Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter, Miley Cyrus, who plays Hannah Montana on TV. They're presenting Country Band, Duo or Group. And the AMA goes to Rascal Flatts. They say that tonight is "about America's music" which would explain why the last performance was by a Canadian. And we've also seen a win by Alberta's Nickelback.

8:52 PM ET

Grey's Anatomy stars Isaiah Washington, Justin Chambers and Kate Walsh intro a performance by Snow Patrol. Wow, when performers were asked to be on this show, were they told to be as boring as possible? I've yet to see an interesting performance.

9:01 PM ET

One hour down, two to go. Ryan Seacrest comes out to introduce a performance by Gwen Stefani. Her "Wind It Up" owes its backing track to The Sound of Music's "Lonely Goatherd". First, Fiddler on the Roof and now this. Gwen must like her musicals. Still not super exciting, but the dancing takes it a touch above the boredom levels of the other songs performed so far tonight.

9:07 PM ET

Jay Z takes to the stage to perform his new single.

9:10 PM ET

Chingy and Gavin Rossdale follow Jay Z's performance to present Pop/Rock Favorite Band, Duo or Group. And the AMA goes to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They beat box their thanks from London via satellite.

9:12 PM ET

And it's product placement time as we head into the "Kay Jewelers" lounge where Vanessa Williams shows a "Diamond Reflection" moment from the Dixie Chicks.

9:18 PM ET

After saying he's adopted Flava Flav, Kimmel introduces William Shatner and Sarah Silverman and they present the AMA for Pop/Rock Favorite Male Artist. And the AMA goes to Sean Paul. At least he's in the audience to accept the hardware.

9:21 PM ET

Kimmel introduces Paris Hilton, who recently vomited while lip synching to her own music. Talk about being your own harshest critic. She's presenting Soul/R&B Favorite Male Artist. And the AMA goes to Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx.

9:24 PM ET

"It's about time Jamie Foxx won an award," says Kimmel as he introduces Bobby co-stars Sharon Stone and Christian Slater. After a blurb about free speech, they introduce a performance by the Dixie Chicks.

9:34 PM ET

The Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl introduces Tenacious D.

9:38 PM ET

One of tonight's winners, Mary J. Blige, performs next.

9:42 PM ET

Brian McKight and Keyshia Cole present the next category, Contemporary Inspirational. And the AMA goes to Kirk Franklin, his first. Accepting the award, Franklin said, "I know that a lot of people that say that they're Christians — you know, we don't always represent, and we don't always live it and we do sometimes some very stupid things, and you know we're not doing a good job. I want to make sure that when you see my life that it's a life that I'm gonna be proud of."

9:49 PM ET

Back to the Kay Jewelers lounge, where Vanessa Williams shows us some clips of Lionel Richie.

9:50 PM ET

Lionel's daughter, Nicole Richie, introduces a performance by her dad. He follows his latest hit with his classic 80s tune, "All Night Long". Okay, I'm not a Lionel Richie fan, but his performance does have the most energy of the night.

9:55 PM ET

Kirk Franklin and Taylor Hicks have the task of presenting Soul/R&B Favorite Band, Duo or Group. And the AMA goes to The Black Eyed Peas, who once again give their thanks from Costa Rica.

9:57 PM ET

Fall Out Boy performs next. Nothing to write home about.

10:05 PM ET

With less than an hour to go, Nickelback are onstage now to present the American Music Award for Favorite Breakthrough Artist. And the AMA goes to Carrie Underwood. She thanks God, the fans, her mom, and unlike Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol management team.

10:08 PM ET

Speaking of Idol, leggy runner-up Katherine McPhee joins Sean Paul to introduce Rascal Flatts. They mentioned earlier that this was a night about "America's music." So now it's only fitting that they perform their remake of "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane. A Canadian, by the way.

10:12 PM ET

Jamie Foxx now performs. It's a powerful, emotional performance dedicated to his grandmother.

10:17 PM ET

Kimmel introduces Jesse McCartney and Ashley Simpson. They're presenting the T-Mobile Text-In Award. And the AMA goes to Rascal Flatts.

10:19 PM ET

The announcer warns us that a medley by Barry Manilow will soon take place. Off to the shelters!

10:23 PM ET

Here's a bizarre pairing...Carmen Electra introduces Manilow.

10:28 PM ET

Linkin Park presents the AMA for Alternative Music. And the AMA goes to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They time their thanks as they're broadcast once again from London.

10:34 PM ET

We've rounded the corner towards the finish line. Here's Meat Loaf and, straight from the TomKat wedding, Jenna Elfman. They're presenting Rap/Hip-Hop Album. And the AMA goes to The Black Eyed Peas and "Monkey Business."

10:35 PM ET

Tori Spelling and Clay Aiken, two future answers to trivia questions, introduce a performance by John Mayer, but not before Tori slips in a reference to Clay's "I don't know where your hand has been" feud with Kelly Ripa.

10:40 PM ET

Chamillionaire and Weird Al Yankovic explain the voting tabulation process. Phew! Glad we got that over with. I was beginning to worry that we weren't going to learn who the chartered accountants were.

10:50 PM ET

The Game and Chris Brown introduce the "grand finale". Their words, not mine. It's a performance by Snoop Dogg and Akon that's full of the usual dancers on stripper poles.

10:51 PM ET

Frankie J and Tyrese hit the podium now to present Favorite Soul/R&B Album. And the AMA goes to Mary J. Blige. It's the fourth AMA of her career.

10:57 PM ET

A boring night at the AMAs is over. G'night.

Here are the nominees with winners in bold.:

POP/ROCK

Favorite Male Artist

  • Nick Lachey
  • Sean Paul
  • Kanye West

Favorite Female Artist

  • Mariah Carey
  • Kelly Clarkson
  • Nelly Furtado

Favorite Band, Duo or Group

  • Nickelback
  • Pussycat Dolls
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers

Favorite Album

  • All the Right Reasons - Nickelback
  • Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • High School Musical - Various Artists

COUNTRY

Favorite Male Artist

  • Kenny Chesney
  • Toby Keith
  • Keith Urban

Favorite Female Artist

  • Faith Hill
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Gretchen Wilson

Favorite Band, Duo or Group

  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Montgomery Gentry
  • Rascal Flatts

Favorite Album

  • Legend of Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash
  • Greatest Hits Volume 2 - Tim McGraw
  • Me and My Gang - Rascal Flatts

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES

Favorite Male Artist

  • Chris Brown
  • Jamie Foxx
  • NE-YO

Favorite Female Artist

  • Mary J. Blige
  • Mariah Carey
  • Keyshia Cole

Favorite Band, Duo or Group

  • The Black Eyed Peas
  • The Isley Brothers
  • Jagged Edge

Favorite Album

  • The Breakthrough - Mary J. Blige
  • The Emancipation of Mimi - Mariah Carey
  • Unpredictable - Jamie Foxx

RAP/HIP-HOP

Favorite Male Artist

  • Eminem
  • T.I.
  • Kanye West

Favorite Band, Duo or Group

  • The Black Eyed Peas
  • Dem Franchize Boyz
  • Three 6 Mafia

Favorite Album

  • Monkey Business - The Black Eyed Peas
  • Curtain Call - Eminem
  • King - T.I.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Favorite Artist

  • Michael Bublé
  • Kelly Clarkson
  • Rob Thomas

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC

Favorite Artist

  • Nickelback
  • Pearl Jam
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers

LATIN MUSIC

Favorite Artist

  • Daddy Yankee
  • Don Omar
  • Shakira

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Favorite Artist

  • Aly & AJ
  • Casting Crowns
  • Kirk Franklin

FAVORITE NEW BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST (ALL GENRES)

  • Chamillionaire
  • Pussycat Dolls
  • Carrie Underwood

T-MOBILE TEXT-IN AWARD

  • Beyoncé
  • Mary J. Blige
  • Daniel Powter
  • Pussycat Dolls
  • Rascal Flatts