Next is big winner at Billboard Awards

ANGIE WAGNER

Monday, Dec. 7, 1998 | 9:09 a.m.

LAS VEGAS -- The R&B trio Next was the big winner Monday night at the Billboard Music Awards, earning eight awards, including new artist of the year.

Garth Brooks and Celine Dion each picked up six awards during the ceremony at the MGM Grand Hotel.

Next also won the hot 100 single of the year for "Too Close," R&B single of the year, R&B singles artist of the year and hot 100 singles duo or group of the year. The group picked up more awards for new R&B artist of the year, R&B group of the year and R&B singles airplay track of the year.

Brooks won country artist of the year and Dion won album artist of the year.

Stevie Wonder received a standing ovation when he came onstage to present a special award to Mariah Carey.

Hole lead singer Courtney Love didn't get the same recognition for her performance, but during the commercial break she did raise her long dress over her hips to reveal what was underneath - nothing.

Bette Midler performed via satellite from the Hard Rock Hotel, then showed up later at the MGM Grand wearing a billboard of her latest album, "Bathhouse Betty."

"Well, it's the Billboard awards. So, I thought you'd like to take a peek at mine," she said.

Other performers included Whitney Houston, Natalie Imbruglia, Shania Twain and Usher.

Just the mention of the pop group Backstreet Boys had the teen girls in the audience screaming and yelling "I love you!" The group performed, but figuring out which song they sang was a tough call due to the piercing screams.

The 1998 Billboard awards ceremony was broadcast on Fox. The awards are determined by the magazine's year-end charts, which are based on a combination of record sales and radio airplay.

The winners are:

-Next, hot 100 single of the year for "Too Close"

-Next, R&B single of the year for "Too Close"

-Next, R&B singles artist of the year

-Next, hot 100 singles duo or group of the year

-Next, new artist of the year

-Next, new R&B artist of the year

-Next, R&B group of the year

-Next, R&B singles airplay of the year for "Too Close"

-Garth Brooks, country artist of the year

-Garth Brooks, country album of the year for "Sevens"

-Garth Brooks, male album of the year for "Sevens"

-Garth Brooks, male albums artist of the year

-Garth Brooks, country singles artist of the year

-Garth Brooks, country albums artist of the year

-Celine Dion, album of the year for "Titanic"

-Celine Dion, female album of the year for "Let's Talk About Love"

-Celine Dion, soundtrack album of the year for "Titanic"

-Celine Dion, soundtrack single of the year for "My Heart Will Go On"

-Celine Dion, album artist of the year

-Celine Dion, adult contemporary artist of the year

-LeAnn Rimes, special hot 100 award for most weeks the single "How Do I Live" spent in the Top 100 (69 weeks)

-LeAnn Rimes, female country artist of the year

-LeAnn Rimes, contemporary Christian artist of the year

-LeAnn Rimes, contemporary Christian album of the year

-LeAnn Rimes, country singles sales artist of the year

-Usher, artist of the year

-Usher, hot 100 singles artist of the year

-Usher, R&B artist of the year

-Shania Twain, female artist of the year

-Shania Twain, hot 100 singles female artist of the year

-Shania Train, best-selling country single of the year for "You're Still The One"

-Everclear, modern rock artist of the year

-Jay-Z, R&B albums artist of the year

-Mariah Carey, special hot 100 award for most No. 1 hits ever by a female solo artist

-James Taylor, century award

-Marcy Playground, modern rock track of the year for "Sex and Candy"

-Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, rock track of the year for "Blue on Black"

-Mase, rap artist of the year

-Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, rap single of the year for "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby"

-Natalie Imbruglia, adult top 40 track of the year for "Torn"

-Lauryn Hill, R&B album of the year for "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"

-Backstreet Boys, group album of the year for "Backstreet Boys"

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