Their album Monkey Business may have come out more than a year and a half ago, but the Black Eyed Peas are still reaping rewards from it.

The hip-hop-R&B group grabbed three American Music Awards (AMA) last night, topping a night that honored the most popular recent music in America and featured performances from a handful of artists who hope to snare awards next year.

At a star-studded event at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles last night, the quartet of Will.i.am, Fergie, Apl.de.ap, and Taboo won for best group in both the rap/hip-hop and soul/R&B categories, while Monkey Business, which was released in June 2005 but was still eligible for an AMA, was named favorite rap/hip-hop album.

Meanwhile, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, and Rascal Flatts picked up two awards each on the night, which was hosted by ABC's Jimmy Kimmel. AMA nominees are picked based on record sales, with winners picked by a survey of 20,000 listeners.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers won favorite alternative artist and pop/rock band, and their acceptance speech via satellite from London featured Flea beat-boxing. Rascal Flatts won favorite country group and the T-Mobile Text-In award, which is chosen by text messages by fans.

Clarkson garnered trophies for pop/rock female and adult contemporary artist, while Blige won favorite soul/R&B album for The Breakthrough and favorite female R&B artist.

Blige accepted her award from surprise presenter Britney Spears, who filed for divorce from Kevin Federline earlier this month. Kimmel played a skit of a K-Fed look-alike in a wooden crate that gets dumped into the ocean, with Kimmel calling the would-be rap star the world's first "no-hit wonder."

Jamie Foxx, who performed "Wish U Were Here" from his 2005 album, Unpredictable, won for favorite male soul/R&B artist.

"I dedicate this song, y'all, to my mother in the audience, and everyone," Foxx said, referring to the presence of his estranged biological mother. "I'm like a rookie in this music thing. This means a lot more than you think, man."

Eminem took home the prize for favorite male rap/hip-hop artist, despite not having released an album of new material since 2004's Encore.

Dancehall star Sean Paul won favorite male pop/rock artist, while Canadian rockers Nickelback took home the trophy for pop/rock album for All the Right Reasons.

Faith Hill nabbed favorite female country artist, while husband Tim McGraw's Greatest Hits Volume 2 won favorite country album. Toby Keith won favorite male country artist, while American Idol winner Carrie Underwood was crowned new breakthrough artist.

Shakira won favorite Latin artist, and Kirk Franklin captured the award for contemporary inspirational music.

While the night awarded popular music of the recent past, it also featured performances from artists with new albums out or albums on the way.

Beyonce kicked off the show in a sequined minidress with a performance of her song "Irreplaceable," while her beau, Jay-Z, took the stage for "Show Me What You Got," the first single off his new record, Kingdom Come, which hit stores yesterday.

The Pussycat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, Gwen Stefani, Lionel Richie, and Barry Manilow each performed individually, while Snoop Dogg was joined by Akon for their song, "I Wanna Love U."

Winners at the American Music Awards:

Pop-Rock:

Male artist: Sean Paul

Female artist: Kelly Clarkson

Band, duo or group: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Album: All the Right Reasons, Nickelback

Soul-R&B:

Male artist: Jamie Foxx

Female artist: Mary J. Blige

Band, duo or group: The Black Eyed Peas

Album: The Breakthrough, Mary J. Blige

Country:

Male artist: Toby Keith

Female artist: Faith Hill

Band, duo or group: Rascal Flatts

Album: Greatest Hits Volume 2, Tim McGraw

Rap/Hip-Hop:

Male artist: Eminem

Band, duo or group: The Black Eyed Peas

Album: Monkey Business, The Black Eyes Peas

Adult Contemporary:

Artist: Kelly Clarkson

Latin Music:

Artist: Shakira

Alternative Music:

Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Contemporary Inspirational:

Artist: Kirk Franklin

Breakthrough:

New artist: Carrie Underwood

T-Mobile Text-In Award (voted by public):

Rascal Flatts