Spears Is Finalist In Six Billboard Awards Categories

Britney Spears leads the list of finalists for the 1999 Billboard Music Awards, to be held Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Jive teen singer is in the running in six categories: artist of the year, female artist, new artist, Hot 100 singles artist, album artist, and album of the year ("...Baby One More Time").

Spears' labelmates Backstreet Boys also fared well, becoming finalists in five contests, including artist of the year and album of the year ("Millennium"). R&B act TLC is in the running in five categories, too, among them artist and duo/group artist of the year

In addition, Shania Twain, Jay-Z, Whitney Houston, and R. Kelly were finalists in three categories each.

The awards will be telecast live starting at 8 p.m. ET on FOX-TV.

Among the acts scheduled to play at the show are Metallica, which will perform with a 79-piece orchestra from a special location on the Vegas strip; Spears; Ricky Martin; Jennifer Lopez; LeAnn Rimes; and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Additionally, Backstreet Boys, Kelly, Vitamin C, and Brian McKnight will make special appearances on the program, along with previously announced artists Celine Dion, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Christina Aguilera, Aerosmith, Lou Bega, 98 Degrees, 'N Sync, Mary J. Blige, Everlast, ZZ Top, Sugar Ray, and Blink 182.

For a complete list of finalists for the 1999 Billboard Music awards, click here.