Live and Learn

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 | 8:18 a.m.

Ashlee Simpson might not have been the biggest name on a "Radio Music Awards" stage that also featured Usher, Beyonce, Elton John and Janet Jackson on Monday night at the Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts.

But 48 hours after Simpson's "Saturday Night Live" lip-syncing debacle, the 19-year-old pop star was easily the Las Vegas show's most anticipated performer.

The mere mention of Simpson's name during promotional voice-overs drew titters, cheers and a smattering of boos from the animated crowd of about 7,000 that attended the two-hour NBC event.

"RMAs" co-host Carson Daly had a bit of fun at Simpson's expense while introducing the singer.

"And now, live -- yes, live -- give it up for Ashlee Simpson," Daly announced.

Even Simpson tried to lighten the mood, replicating the start of Saturday night's incident by having her band play the first few seconds of "Pieces of Me." Simpson acted confused, cutting them off by yelling, "That's the wrong song!"

She then faced the crowd, assuring them she was "Just kidding, you guys," before launching into "Autobiography," the botched number from her instantly infamous "Saturday Night Live" appearance.

This time, there was little doubt Simpson used her own real-time vocals. She provided extra emphasis at points, as if determined to prove she was actually singing.

On Saturday, Simpson walked off the "Saturday Night Live" stage when a recorded vocal track for "Pieces of Me" began playing at the start of her attempted version of "Autobiography."

In a series of radio interviews before Monday's "RMAs" Simpson's father and manager, Joe Simpson, admitted his daughter utilized a taped vocal track on "Saturday Night Live," but insisted she had never done so before.

"Every singer in the world has done backing tracks, from Celine (Dion) all the way down," Joe Simpson told DJ Paul "Cubby" Bryant of New York City station WHTZ 100.3-FM ("Z100"). "Sometimes our voice is not perfect and it doesn't go. It doesn't mean you can't sing. It just means you gotta do what you gotta do."

Since Saturday, Ashlee Simpson has been the subject of much ridicule, with publications topping the story with such barbs as "Karaoke Coward" and "Talent Malfunction."

Posts on Simpson's official Web site -- www.ashleesimpsonmusic.com -- have been mixed, with some fans offering support and others comparing the teen to Milli Vanilli, ruined by lip-syncing revelations in 1990.

Daly asked Ashlee Simpson about her "SNL" incident during an offstage interview apparently held during the "Radio Music Awards" broadcast.

"I have serious acid reflux, and the day of 'Saturday Night Live' I completely lost my voice," Simpson said. "It's crazy, but you move on."

Usher, who dominated last month's "World Music Awards," did so again at the "RMAs," which rewarded radio airplay from September 2003 through August 2004.

Fans voted him the R&B vocalist the Cingular Artist of the Year via text messaging; he was named Hip-Hop/Rhythmic Artist of the Year; and his hit "Yeah" was selected the Hip-Hop/Rhythmic Song of the Year.

"No doubt about it, it's been a wonderful year for me," Usher said during the first of his three acceptance speeches.

Rap-rock band Linkin Park picked up two awards, for Rock Artist of the Year and for Alternative Rock Song of the Year ("Numb").

Janet Jackson received the Legend Award celebrating her career achievements. Rapper Nelly made the presentation.

"A legend changes the face of the industry, raises the stakes for other artists and gets the best out of all of us," Nelly said, setting up a video montage containing snippets of Jackson's best-known songs, including "Control," "Nasty," "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" and "Rhythm Nation."

"I feel so fortunate that I've been able to express myself through my music," Jackson said.

The night's other award winners: Beyonce (Top 40 Artist of the Year), Tim McGraw (Country Artist of the Year) and Train (Modern Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year). Other RMA recipients are scheduled to be revealed during the coming week on Web site www.nbc.com/nbc/radio]music]awards.com.

Recently reunited R&B trio Destiny's Child opened the show with a carefully choreographed run through "Lose My Breath," highlighting the show's eight performances.

McGraw drew a long standing ovation for his rendition of "Live Like You Were Dying," as did John, who played "Answer in the Sky," the latest addition to his "Red Piano" production show at Caesars Palace.