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Foxx snags AMA as biological mom watches
2006-11-22
It was a more-than-unpredictable night for Oscar winner Jamie Foxx at the American Music Awards program Tuesday at the Shrine Auditorium. Not only did he snag his first AMA, for best soul-R&B male artist, but his biological mother attended the show. He hadn't seen her in years. "I dedicate this song, y'all, to my mother in the audience, and everyone. I hope you allow me to be myself," Foxx said, introducing a performance of his song "Wish U Were Here" from 2005's "Unpredictable." Backstage, Foxx waxed poetic about his mother being present. "My biological mother didn't raise me. A lady adopted my biological mother and then adopted me at 7 months," he said. "It feels good to have her see me doing something great." When asked about winning an award for his music, on top of his Academy Award for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie "Ray," Foxx grinned. "It's a different flow, of course. But for music, for what I want to do ... it's everything," he said. ___ LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Best new breakthrough artist nominee Chamillionaire didn't sport his usual hoodie sweatshirt and do-rag on the red carpet outside the American Music Awards. Instead, the chart-topping rapper -- with a golden grill attached to his teeth -- wore a dapper brown suit and orange tie, his first. "This is the first time in my life I've ever worn a tie, so this is big," he said. "It's just stepping out of the box a little bit. People expect me to wear a hoodie." Other rappers, including top-ranked rhymer The Game, dressed up in suits, with their gold bling glittering around their necks. But rapper Chingy, who presented an award, traded in his posh hip-hop duds for a blazer and jeans. Why? "The AMAs are one of my favorite awards shows. It's casual," he said. ___ LOS ANGELES (AP) -- She's single and she's sizzling. That's what other singers said of Britney Spears, who showed up onstage at the American Music Awards in a cleavage-baring dress to present the best female soul-R&B artist award just after a skit parodying her recent ex, Kevin Federline. "She looked great. She got back on the horse, in my opinion," said presenter Jesse McCartney backstage. Singer JoJo, wearing a flirty pink dress, said backstage that she supported Spears, who recently filed for divorce from Federline, described by AMA host Jimmy Kimmel as a "no-hit wonder." "She's still a young lady, so she definitely has the opportunity to come back," said teen star JoJo, adding that she first met Spears when she was 7 and an aspiring musician. ___ LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Sean Paul had always been a groomsman, never a groom, at the American Music Awards -- until now. "This is the first time I've been able to go up there and thank people," said the year's favorite pop-rock male artist, wearing a sweeping black velvet jacket. "It's been a great day." Paul was nominated for two rap/hip-hop AMAs in 2003. The Jamaican dance hall star, who beat out Nick Lachey and Kanye West in the category, joked about West's outburst at the MTV Europe Movie Awards when he lost. "I was kind of looking out. If Nick had won and Kanye had gone up there, I would have gone up with him!" West, apparently disappointed at not winning for best video earlier this month, had crashed the stage with an expletive-filled tirade. ___ Entertainment writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this report.
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