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Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child rule the World

R&B star selected female entertainer of year; Usher takes men's honor
/ Source: The Associated Press

Destiny’s Child and Mariah Carey helped solidify their status as bankable international acts, combining to win the most honors at the 2005 World Music Awards, which selects winners based on the strength of their worldwide record sales.

Destiny’s Child won for best-selling pop group, best-selling R&B group and best-selling female group of all time at Wednesday night’s ceremony.

Carey, who staged a huge comeback this year with “The Emancipation of Mimi,” nabbed the best-selling R&B artist, best-selling pop female artist and female entertainer of the year awards.

“This is an incredible night,” Carey said after accepting the entertainer of the year award. “I never expected to be standing here.”

The Game and Gwen Stefani each took honors for the best-selling new male and female artist, respectively, at the awards show held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. It will be telecast Sept. 13 on ABC.

Stefani, who was on tour, accepted the award from Hillary Duff via satellite and gave a nod to fans around the globe who helped put her debut solo album “Love.Angel.Music.Baby” in the top spot.

“We’ve been all around the world and that’s my favorite part of everything I do,” she said.

Usher, who won three awards at last year’s show, earned the award for male entertainer of the year, and 50 Cent won for best-selling pop male artist.

Eminem was presented with two awards before the show — best-selling pop-rock artist and best-selling hip-hop artist — while Irish supergroup U2 took the honors for best-selling rock artist.

The best-selling new group award went to the Killers.

Co-hosts James Denton of “Desperate Housewives” and Carmen Electra started off the night with a sexy vibe as Electra stripped down to black bra, panties and a feather boa shortly after taking the stage.

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Three other scantily clad women then joined the hosts.

“It’s a little hot in here,” Electra said.

The show reflected the international focus of the awards, with appearances by the best-selling recording artist in Russia, Philip Kirkorov, and Lebanon’s top-selling singer, Elissa, among others.

“It’s global,” singer Ricky Martin said of the show. “It’s the world telling some artists they’re doing a good job, because you get an award if you sell, so that’s the audience talking, so it’s very special.”

Several awards were handed out prior to the show, including some recognizing best-selling artists by country.

Before the show, Denton and other celebrity attendees struck a serious tone while reflecting on the destruction that Hurricane Katrina wrought this week upon New Orleans and surrounding areas.

“We saw the aerial photos this morning and that’s when it really hit home, the devastation,” Denton said. “I think there’s a bit of denial. At some point you can just turn the TV off (but) they have to wake up with it every morning.”

Percussionist Sheila E was particularly concerned because she has family in New Orleans. “We have family there so we’re still waiting to hear from our family,” she said. “We don’t know where they are. We don’t know if they even got out.”