By Richard Chen
Keith: When people talk about having #1 records, they are talking about Billboard Hot 100. Whether you call it Top 10, Top 20, Top 40, whatever, it's all taken from this chart. The artist who has the most successful singles on this chart is the Hot 100 Artist of the Year. Here are the finalists: Mariah Carey <Crowd goes wild>, LL Cool J <ditto>, Celine Dion <ditto>, Los del Rio <crowd dies down after 2 seconds =) >. And the Hot 100 Artist of the Year is... Mariah Carey! <Crowd goes wild again!>
Mariah: I always heard you could get lucky in Las Vegas <laughs> <waits for crowd to die down> First of all, I just want to say thank you so much to all the artists who collaborated with me on this project and... you know this award is about the people and you all made this happen and... I owe everything to you and radio and retail. Everybody out there, just thank you so much for supporting me... I love you so much and thanks. <Waves to the crowd as she walks off backstage and crowd becomes wild again>
Chris Rock: Alright Mariah Carey! Hey you forgot to thank the O-D-B <rap artist who did the "Fantasy" remix with Mariah>.... me and Mariah go back like babies and pacifiers, how you gonna forget that?!? <Next Artist>
Brandy: In 1956, Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" were #1 for 11 weeks, a record that stood for 36 years. It was broken in 1992 by Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" and the following year, Whitney Houston set a new mark when "I Will Always Love You" was #1 for 14 weeks. That incredible record was broken this year and the single that did it is being honored here tonight with the special Hot 100 Award. The new Billboard record for the most weeks at #1 in the Hot 100 was set this year by One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey's collaboration with Boyz II Men.
<OSD Video comes up, with the interview about the song in the middle and ends with Mariah's close-up at the face> <Crowd cheers>
One Sweet Day was only the 4th record to enter the Hot 100 at #1. It gives Mariah the distinction of being the only artist in history to have achieved the feat twice. For establishing the new Billboard record for the most weeks at #1, the Hot 100 Billboard is proud to present the special Hot 100 award to Ms. Mariah Carey. <Crowd goes wild>
Mariah: Before I acknowledge this award, I didn't forget ODB, I would never forget them.. I said all the artists I work with and he knows I love him.. <laughs> Anyway, the award belongs to Boyz II Men and myself and I love them, they made this possible and this really and truly belongs to you guys and hey... I'll let you borrow it some time alright, you know <laughs> But thank you so much to Columbia Records, radio and retail, everybody out there that made this happen... and this song was very important to us and still is.. and thank you so much everybody for your support... Thanks. <Crowd goes wild as she walks off with Brandy and commercial comes in>