Women Lead Music Awards Nominees



.c The Associated Press



By DAVID GERMAIN



LOS ANGELES (AP) - Carlos Santana's band won best-album honors at Monday's
American Music Awards for ``Supernatural,'' a commercial comeback that put the
rock guitar maestro on top of the charts for the first time in his 30-year
career.



``Supernatural,'' mixing Santana's searing instrumentals with vocals by such
collaborators as Dave Matthews and Lauryn Hill, beat out two teen sensations,
the Backstreet Boys' ``Millennium'' and Britney Spears' ''... Baby One More
Time.''



Santana took the stage to a standing ovation. After thanking his parents,
siblings and wife, he invited his producer, Clive Davis, to join him. ``Your
music has soared,'' Davis told Santana. ``To musicians everywhere, this is a
special moment, because it's this man.''



Garth Brooks won for best country album for ``Double Live.''



``They say live albums never do anything,'' Brooks said. ``Thank you once again
for not listening to the rules.''



DMX won for favorite rap-hip hop artist. ``I wouldn't have done this without
Lord and savior Jesus Christ,'' he said.



Three awards were announced before the show. Red Hot Chili Peppers beat Kid
Rock and Limp Bizkit for favorite alternative artist, and Phil Collins won for
favorite adult contemporary artist over Cher and country star Shania Twain.
``Wild Wild West'' was the favorite soundtrack, beating ``Austin Powers: The
Spy Who Shagged Me'' and ``Runaway Bride.''



Spears, Twain and soul singer Whitney Houston led the field with three
nominations each. And all three were in the running for favorite pop-rock
female artist at the 27th annual awards show, which aired on ABC from the Shrine Auditorium.



Besides adult contemporary artist, Twain was nominated for favorite female
country artist. Houston was nominated for female artist and album for ``My Love
Is Your Love'' in the soul-rhythm and blues categories. Besides pop-rock album,
Spears also was up for favorite pop-rock new artist.



Houston was departing for Europe on Monday night or Tuesday and did not plan on
attending the show. Awards spokesman Paul Shefrin said her absence was
unrelated to an incident in Hawaii last week, when airport security guards said
they found about half an ounce of marijuana in her bag but she boarded her
flight before police arrived.



Besides pop album, the latest incarnation of Santana's band was nominated for
favorite pop-rock band, duo or group. Other nominees in that category were the
Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. The pop-rock male artist nominees were Lenny
Kravitz, Ricky Martin and Will Smith.



The nominees were chosen by music industry representatives. The winners were decided by about 20,000 music fans nationwide.



Besides awards in 20 regular categories, the show was to feature results of an
Internet poll on listeners' favorite musical artists for each decade from the
1950s through the 1980s.



The show also included an Award of Merit for Gloria Estefan, who was honored
with a musical tribute featuring 'N Sync. Past winners of the award, given in
recognition for American musical contributions, include Benny Goodman, Stevie
Wonder, Loretta Lynn and Paul McCartney.



Mariah Carey received an Award of Achievement for her ``rare and distinguished
accomplishments.'' Michael Jackson and Prince are the only previous winners of
that award.



Performers scheduled to appear on the three-hour show included Carey, Kravitz,
Christina Aguilera, the Eurythmics and Enrique Iglesias. Comedian Norm
Macdonald was the host.



AP-NY-01-17-00 2048EST