Singer Mariah Carey accepts the American Music Award for favourite female Soul/R and B artist she won at the 2005 American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, November 22, 2005. Reflection from the award is shown on side of Carey's face. (Xinhua/Reuters)

BEIJING, Nov. 24 -- U.S. pop diva Mariah Carey suffered a surprise setback in the resurrection of her career Tuesday when she picked up just one prize at the American Music Awards, having led the field with four nominations.

    Multiple honors went to country star Tim McGraw, punk rock trio Green Day, pop singer Kelly Clarkson, R&B trio Destiny's Child and funk band the Black Eyed Peas, who each won a pair.

    History almost repeated for Carey, 35, who went home empty-handed in 1997 after leading with six nominations.

    But some things do not change. Many of the winners were not present, including Green Day, Clarkson and the Black Eyed Peas. Other no-shows included rapper Eminem and his protege, 50 Cent, and R&B singer R. Kelly.

    Carey won the evening's first award, for favorite soul/R&B female artist, and it seemed as if she was set for a clean sweep. But the 20,000 record-buyers whose votes determine the winners had other ideas.

    She lost the favorite female pop/rock prize to Gwen Stefani, who seemed surprised by the win. Later in the evening, Carey¡¯s comeback album, ¡°The Emancipation of Mimi,¡± lost the pop/rock and soul/R&B races to Green Day's ¡°American Idiot¡± and Destiny¡¯s Child¡¯s ¡°Destiny Fulfilled,¡± respectively.

    Carey's album is one of the biggest sellers of the year, with worldwide sales of more than 7 million copies. The single ¡°We Belong Together¡± ruled the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks.

    Four years ago, Carey's career hit the skids as she released a flop movie and album. Her previous label, Virgin Records, which had just signed her to a contract worth US$80 million, paid her US$28 million to leave.