Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Paramore Score at People's Choice Awards

The people of 2009 have spoken: women musicians dominated the first awards show of 2010 with Lady Gaga leading the charge. At last night's Queen Latifah-hosted People's Choice Awards, the singer picked up two trophies (Favorite Pop Artist and Favorite Breakout Music Artist), while Paramore beat out Green Day and Kings of Leon to nab Favorite Rock Band. "Run This Town," Rihanna's team-up with Jay-Z and Kanye West scored Favorite Music Collaboration, Mariah Carey won Favorite R&B Artist and Taylor Swift took home the honor for Favorite Female Artist (she was defeated by Carrie Underwood for Favorite Country Artist). Keith Urban prevailed over Eminem for Favorite Male Artist, but Slim Shady managed to wrestle Favorite Hip-Hop Artist from Jay-Z and Lil Wayne.

A pair of musical TV shows — Glee and American Idol — were victorious, and most non-musical categories went to Twilight, including Favorite Breakout Movie Actor (recent RS cover star Taylor Lautner), Favorite Movie and Favorite Franchise.

The show, which aired on CBS, featured two musical performances: Mary J. Blige and Cobra Starship with the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger. Check them both out here:

Winners for the 36th Annual People's Choice Awards were determined by online voting. Nominees were selected with the help of Visible Measures, and online media research company that tracks people's Web video-watching preferences.

Check out photos of all the big winners in our special galleries:
• Lady Gaga's Wild Looks: The New Princess of Pop's Craziest Wardrobe Moments
• Taylor Swift's Family Album
• Rihanna's Fierce Fashions

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

More Song Stories entries »

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