Usher, OutKast Win American Music Awards R&B sensation Usher won favorite male soul/R&B artist at the American Music Awards on Sunday, collecting on the first of a show-leading four nominations. Usher beat out R. Kelly, Prince and "American Idol" alum Ruben Studdard for the award. He was also up for favorite male artist in the pop/rock division. Rap funksters OutKast, whose album "Speakerboxxx-The Love Below" spawned the mega-hit "Hey Ya!" took home the favorite pop/rock band award. In his acceptance remarks, OutKast's Big Boi paid tribute to founding Wu-Tang Clan member O.D.B., who collapsed and died inside a New York recording studio Saturday. The rapper's cause of death was not immediately clear. "Rest in peace Ol' Dirty Bastard," Big Boi said. "We love you." Shortly before the start of the telecast, producer Dick Clark announced rapper Jay-Z won favorite male artist in the rap/hip-hop category. Singer Marc Anthony beat out Intocable and Paulina Rubio for the favorite Latin music artist, and the group MercyMe won best contemporary inspirational artist. Gwen Stefani opened the show wearing a short, ruffled dress and white stockings and flanked by a troupe of child dancers singing to "What You Waiting For?" Lenny Kravitz, clad in a black trenchcoat and tie, hair cropped short, followed performing "Lady." Usher's steamy album "Confessions," which sold more than 1 million copies in its debut week, was nominated for top album honors in the pop/rock and soul/R&B divisions. In the hip-hop/rap class, innovative rap newcomer Kanye West received nods in three categories: favorite male artist, for his debut album, "The College Dropout," and best new artist. Joining West in the cross-genre newcomer category were Maroon 5 and Gretchen Wilson, who was also nominated for top female artist in the country music division, along with Martina McBride and Reba McEntire. The same male artists nominated last year in the country music category vied for awards again, including Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw, who won last year. Beyonce, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys were all up for favorite female performer in the soul/R&B class, while Lavigne, Sheryl Crow and Jessica Simpson topped the list of favorite female artist in the pop/rock division. OutKast, the big winner at February's Grammys, also was a contender for best group in the rap/hip-hop division. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony broadcast live on ABC from the Shrine Auditorium. "We're here to celebrate the music and the performers who sing and/or lip-sync it tonight," Kimmel said in his monologue, poking fun at Ashlee Simpson's recent "Saturday Night Live" faux pas. Nominees were chosen on the basis of record sales, with winners selected by a survey of about 20,000 listeners. Veteran rockers Bon Jovi were chosen to receive a special merit award, and were also slated to perform during the show, along with Jessica Simpson, Keith, Maroon 5, Josh Groban, Rod Stewart  and Snoop Dogg. Meanwhile, Ringo Starr was scheduled to take the stage to introduce a rarely broadcast performance clip of The Beatles.