Eminem [ tickets ] was the big winner at Monday (1/13) night's American Music Awards ceremony, racking up wins in all four categories in which he was nominated.

The Detroit rapper scored top honors in the Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album categories in both the pop/rock and the hip-hop/R&B genres, but was not on hand to accept.

Stepping in for Eminem was his "8 Mile" co-star Mekhi Phifer who, with a cell phone held to his ear, walked on stage and picked up one of Eminem's awards for the absent rapper, saying, "Hey, y'all, this is Eminem on the phone!"

Some of the night's other multiple-award winners included the Dixie Chicks [ tickets ], who picked up the country music awards for Favorite Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Album (for "Home); Creed [ tickets ], who won Favorite Band, Duo or Group in the pop/rock category, and--somewhat inexplicably--Favorite Artist in the alternative music category; and Ashanti, who was crowned Favorite New Artist in both the pop/rock and hip-hop/R&B categories.

St. Louis rapper Nelly [ tickets ] won the Fan's Choice Award, an honor that was determined by votes cast at the American Music Awards' website.

Performers included Tim McGraw [ tickets ] and Elton John, who opened the night with John's classic "Tiny Dancer;" Christina Aguilera, who wore an atypically generous amount of clothing and performed a medley of her ballads "Beautiful" and "Impossible;" Nickelback, who delivered their hit single "How You Remind Me'" and Kelly Osbourne, who performed the title track from her solo debut, "Shut Up."

Osbourne also co-hosted the event with father Ozzy, mother Sharon and brother Jack. The family gave network censors a run for their money by bringing with them the expletive-laden banter for which they've become known on their successful MTV reality series.

American Music Awards nominees are chosen based on record sales (as reported by Nielsen-SoundScan), and winners are subsequently selected by a survey of about 20,000 record-buyers.

FavoriteFavorite Male Artist - Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music
Eminem

Favorite Female Artist - Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music
Sheryl Crow

Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music
Creed

Favorite Album - Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music
Eminem - "The Eminem Show"

Favorite New Artist - Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music
Ashanti

Favorite Male Artist - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Eminem

Favorite Female Artist - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Mary J. Blige

Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
OutKast

Favorite Album - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Eminem - "The Eminem Show"

Favorite New Artist - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music
Ashanti

Favorite Male Artist - Country Music
Tim McGraw

Favorite Female Artist - Country Music
Martina McBride

Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Country Music
Dixie Chicks

Favorite Album - Country Music
Dixie Chicks - "Home"

Favorite New Artist - Country Music
Carolyn Dawn Johnson

Favorite Artist - Alternative Music
Creed

Favorite Artist - Adult Contemporary Music
Celine Dion

Favorite Artist - Latin Music
Enrique Iglesias

Favorite Artist - Contemporary Inspirational Music
Avalon

Favorite Soundtrack
"Spider-Man"

Fan's Choice Award
Nelly

Coca-Cola New Music Award
Moe Loughran