Rimes A Winner In Billboard Awards

The year belongs to LeAnn Rimes.

The 15-year-old Patsy Cline sound-alike was the big winner Monday night at the Billboard Music Awards, earning four honors, including artist of the year, country artist, country album of the year and country singles artist of the year.

Singer Elton John and writer Bernie Taupin were presented during the awards show at the MGM Grand hotel-casino with a special award for “Candle in the Wind 1997,” the Princess Diana tribute that set a new world record for the biggest-selling single of all time.

The 1997 Billboard Awards, broadcast live on Fox Television, are determined by the magazine’s year-end music charts, which are based on a combination of record sales and radio airplay.

The other winners were:

Elton John, singles artist of the year.

John, singles sales artist of the year.

Chet Atkins, century award.

Garth Brooks, artist achievement award.

Spice Girls, album of the year for “Spice.”

Spice Girls, new artist of the year.

Puff Daddy, rap artist.

Puff Daddy, rap single of the year for “I’ll Be Missing You” with Faith Evans.

Toni Braxton, female R&B artist of the year.

Braxton, adult contemporary artist.