Annie Lennox earned a standing ovation at an American music award ceremony as she performed a heartfelt piano ballad.

The former Eurythmics singer received a rapturous reception for the song, Why, as she received a lifetime achievement award and said: “I never thought that I would live to see the day that I would be 53 years old standing on the stage.”

Candy woman: Christina Aguilera performing at the awards

The American Music Awards, in Los Angeles last night, included performances by Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Kanye West and Leona Lewis, the British singer who won the X Factor pop reality show in 2006.

Diva fever: Beyoncé at the awards

Coldplay made their American Music Awards debut, and R&B singer Chris Brown swept the board, winning three prizes, including artist of the year.

The 19-year-old star overshadowed Alicia Keys, who led the field with five nominations but ended up with only two statuettes.

The Pussycat Dolls perform at the awards ceremony

Brown was clearly shocked when his name was announced for artist of the year, the ceremony's final award.

“I probably was shocked like everybody else,” Brown said. “I thought Coldplay should have genuinely won that award, but I'll take it.”

Brown was also named favourite male artist in the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories while his girlfriend, Rihanna, won those categories for the women, beating Keys in both races.

Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls with her boyfriend F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton

Other multiple winners included outspoken rapper Kanye West, who has never been afraid to express his dismay when he is overlooked at awards shows. He won the first two American Music Awards of his career, but said he would give one of them away to fellow nominee, Lil Wayne.

“If it was last year, this would have been my award,” he said of the male rap/hip-hop category. “This year, it's Wayne's award. We'll see what happens next year.”

He also won the statuette for best rap/hip-hop album with Graduation. West challenged musicians to push each other, and to reclaim the spirit of artists such as the Beatles,Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.

For the second year, winners were determined by online voting as producers tried to spice up the event in the wake of falling ratings.