Mar 4, 2006 8:19 pm US/Pacific
Soul Train Keeps Mariah's Comeback Rolling
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) ―
Mariah Carey kept her comeback going Saturday, picking up best album and best single honors at the 20th Annual Soul Train Music Awards.
Carey, who won three Grammys last month, nabbed awards for best-female album with "The Emancipation of Mimi" and best-female single with "We Belong Together."
"This has been the biggest and most successful year of my life," said Carey, who returned last year after dominating the pop charts for much of the 1990s.
A year ago, Carey's career looked to be fading following a handful of debacles that included a contract buyout by Virgin Records.
"You know that whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger," she said.
Chris Brown, meanwhile, claimed the award for best new rap artist for his album "Run It."
"Just last year I was just at home trying to balance my school work and basketball practice," said 16-year-old Brown, a high school junior.
Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx, who clinched best-musical artist last week at the NAACP Image Awards, was honored Saturday with the Quincy Jones Lifetime Achievement Award.
Foxx, who recently released his album "Unpredictable," said Jones had given him advice to view a musical career as a marathon, not a sprint.
"'You've got another 50 years to go,'" Foxx said Jones told him.
The awards show also recognized one of the genre's legends, naming an award in Stevie Wonder's honor.
Before the show, Wonder received a bronze statue of himself before he was set to present the first annual Stevie Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award to R. Kelly during the show.
"I figure that if they are going to unveil me I might as well see it," said Wonder, who is blind, joking with reporters while being presented the sculpture.
Wonder ran his fingers over the statue as he reflected on the award.
"I would say to anybody getting this honor: 'Wear me well,'" said Wonder, flanked by sculptor Artis Lane and Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.
Besides the lifetime award, R. Kelly led the field Saturday with three nominations.
The R&B crooner was up for best male R&B-soul album for "TP.3 Reloaded," while his song "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1 of 5)" garnered nods for best male R&B-soul single and best R&B-soul or rap music video.
John Legend was presented with the 2006 Sammy Davis Jr. Entertainer of the Year award.
The Soul Train Music Awards, started by the syndicated music show "Soul Train," celebrate artists in R&B, hip-hop and gospel music.
The 2006 honors, hosted by Vivica A. Fox and Tyrese Gibson, will air in syndication beginning March 11.
The awards are determined by a group of radio station professionals, talent managers and performers.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
