Alicia Keys and Chris Brown were the top winners at American Music Awards last night, taking home two awards each. Most of the artists were gracious in their acceptance speeches, with Kanye West as the usual exception. Kanye said he wanted to be Elvis, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix all rolled up into one money-making package worshipped by the masses. It’s hard to tell if he was being serious, but even when he plays up his enormous ego for publicity you get the feeling that he loves smelling his own bullsh*t:

In his acceptance speech for Favorite Album, the always humble rapper told the crowd, “I’d like to thank everyone who accepted me trying to break new boundaries in music. It’s our responsibility as musicians to keep pushing each other…We will be the new Beatles, the new [Jimi] Hendrix. I want to be Elvis.”

While Kanye may have been scored Top Acceptance Speech, the evening’s biggest winner was Chris Brown who took home three awards, including the biggie, Artist of the Year.
“I would’ve gave it to Coldplay,” said the 19-year-old singer. “I’m at a loss for words.”

Brown’s rumored girlfriend, Barbadan beauty Rihanna, won two awards, Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female.
Alicia Keyes, who led with five nominations, won for Pop/Rock Album and Soul/R&B album for As I Am.

“I’m very, very shocked and proud to be here,” she said, dedicating her award “to all the incredible artists who are here tonight and who show their artistry.”

The Jonas Brothers, who arrived to screaming fans, wound up leaving with some hardware for Breakthrough Artist. Ex-American Idol competitors also scored, with also-ran Chris Daughtry and his eponymous band joining former champs Carrie Underwood and Jordin Sparks in the winner’s circle.

In fact, there were no big surprises at the annual awards ceremony, which featured performances by West, Christina Aguillera and New Kids on the Block and was hosted for the fourth time by Jimmy Kimmel.

[From E! Online]

US Weekly has a list of the winners. Best Week Ever has a humorous recap of the night (link leads to video) which includes clips of presenters Scott Weiland and Jamie Foxx looking less than sober as well as a segment from Kanye’s egocentric speech.

Would it kill Kanye to tone it down once in a while? He’s had problems throughout his career with his ego getting in the way and was recently involved in two altercations with paparazzi. What started out as a schtick has become a real problem for the guy. He needs to see someone to deflate that air-filled head of his.

Meanwhile the fashion on the red carpet was questionable to say the least. Rihanna wore an asymmetric tiered strapless dress that looked like a home ec experiment gone wrong while normally gorgeous Queen Latifah was stuffed into a bronze one shoulder gown that would have looked cheap on a 14 year old. She changed into a more flattering corset and pants for a show-stopping performance with Alicia Keys. Sarah McLauchlan wore a negligee-style black dress that showed off her enviable figure but she paired it with black tights. It’s a minor fashion indiscretion compared to most.

Alicia Keys was lovely in a Grecian style blue dress with sequin accents. She had a jewel running from her hair to the middle of her forehead that reminded me of that scene from Something About Mary where Cameron Diaz’s character discovers all natural hair gel. Taylor Swift rocked a tight silver dress with metallic heels that would give any girl confidence on a night when she could run into her most recent ex at any moment.

Britney Spears was a notable no-show, but she was not nominated in any category.

Here are photos from the red carpet last night including Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, Christina Aguilera, Sarah McLachlan, Taylor Swift, Sarah Silverman, Sarah Chalke, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo, Nicole Scherzinger, Annie Lennox, Kanye West, Kat Von D, Brigitte Nielsen, Ashley Tisdale and The Jonas Brothers. Shown in the press room are Brad Paisley, Jordin Sparks, Chris Brown, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey and Leona Lewis.