Spears, Backstreet Boys big winners at Billboard Awards

Angie Wagner

Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999 | 9:58 a.m.

High schooler Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys were big winners Wednesday night at the Billboard Music Awards, each earning four awards.

The group Dixie Chicks picked up three awards during the ceremony at the MGM Grand Hotel, including country artist of the year.

Spears won female artist of the year, new artist of the year, female hot 100 singles artist, and female albums artist. The Backstreet Boys were recognized for artists of the year, artist duo/group, album of the year and album artists.

Mariah Carey was honored as artist of the decade. Confetti dropped from above as she walked on stage.

"I feel like I'm just getting started. I'm so happy to be finally free to be who I am," she said.

Performers included Spears, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez.

The 1999 Billboard awards ceremony was broadcast on Fox. The awards were determined by the magazine's year-end charts, which are based on a combination of record sales and radio airplay.

The hosts were Adam Carolla from "Loveline" and Kathy Griffin from "Suddenly Susan."

The winners are

Artist: Backstreet Boys

Artist Duo/Group: Backstreet Boys

Album Artist: Backstreet Boys

Album: "Millennium," Backstreet Boys

New Artist: Britney Spears

Female Artist: Britney Spears

Female Hot 100 Singles Artist: Britney Spears

Female Album Artist: Britney Spears

Male Artist: Ricky Martin

Male Hot 100 Singles Artist: Ricky Martin

Artist of the Decade: Mariah Carey

R&B Artist: R. Kelly

R&B Album: "400 Degreez," Juvenile

R&B Single: "Fortunate," Maxwell

R&B Album Artist: DMX

Rap Artist: Jay-Z

Rap Single: "Who Dat," JT Money/Sole

Country Artist: Dixie Chicks

Country Album Artist: Dixie Chicks

Country Artist Duo/Group: Dixie Chicks

Modern Rrock Track: "My Own Worst Enemy," Lit

Modern Rock Artist: The Offspring

Rock Track: "One," Creed

Rock Artist: Creed.

Century Award: Emmylou Harris

Artist Achievement Award: Aerosmith

Adult Contemporary Track: "Angel," Sarah McLachlan

Catalog Artist and Catalog Album: "Metallica," Metallica

Special award for setting all-time Billboard record for spending most weeks at No. 1 on the modern rock track chart: "Scar Tissue," Red Hot Chili Peppers