Shania Twain [ tickets ] and Lauryn Hill [ tickets ]--both still riding the wave of highly successful albums released well over a year ago--each picked up two American Music Awards on Tuesday night (1/17), while Garth Brooks [ tickets ], who didn't release a studio album of country music in 1999, claimed two awards in country music categories.

Twain released her latest album, the huge-selling ''Come On Over,'' at the end of 1997, but netted AMAs last night as the Favorite Female Artist in both the Pop Rock and Country Music categories. In the Soul/Rhythm & Blues category, Hill was honored with both the Favorite Female Artist award and Favorite Album for ''The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,'' which was released in August of 1998.

Brooks' last country music release was ''Double Live,'' which was out in time for the 1998 Christmas season and was dominated by live recordings of his previous releases. Nonetheless, ''Double Live'' received the AMA for Favorite Country Album, and Brooks was named Favorite Male Artist in the Country category.

Multiple awards weren't bestowed on any other artist this year, though Will Smith was named Favorite Male Artist in the Pop Rock category, and ''Wild Wild West,'' a soundtrack to which he contributed for a movie in which he starred, won in the Favorite Soundtrack category.

Santana picked up the Favorite Album award in the Pop Rock category for the multi-platinum comeback album ''Supernatural.'' While accepting the award, Carlos Santana invited embattled Arista Records boss Clive Davis to speak.

Other winners in the Pop Rock category included Backstreet Boys (Band, Duo or Group) and Britney Spears (New Artist). R. Kelly (Male Artist), TLC (Band, Duo or Group), Tyrese (New Artist) picked up wins in the Soul/Rhythm & Blues category, and Brooks & Dunn (Band, Duo or Group) and Montgomery Gentry (New Artist) took honors in the Country category.

Whitney Houston, who led the pack along with Britney Spears and Shania Twain with three AMA nominations, didn't win any awards. Houston made news earlier Monday when word hit the newswires that marijuana had allegedly been found in one of her bags at an airport security checkpoint. Houston wasn't in the audience for the AMAs, but she wasn't expected to appear due to her touring commitments in Europe, according to AMA officials.

For career accomplishments, Gloria Estefan was honored with an Award of Merit, and Mariah Carey picked up an Award of Achievement.

This year's AMAs also featured ''Artist of the Decade'' awards for four decades, which were voted upon in an Internet poll. Elvis Presley was named artist of the '50s, the Beatles won for the '60s, Stevie Wonder was named artist of the '70s, and Michael Jackson got the nod for the '80s. Garth Brooks--in an award not voted upon on the Internet--was named artist of the '90s ''by acclamation.''

Comedian Norm Macdonald hosted the show, which was broadcast live on the ABC Television Network from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The ceremonies included performances by 'N Sync, Beck, Dr. Dre with Eminem, Mariah Carey, Brian McKnight, Christina Aguilera, Eurythmics, Lenny Kravitz, Creed, Lonestar, Enrique Iglesias, Eve with Faith Evans, and Brooks & Dunn.

AMA nominees are based on airplay information supplied by Radio & Records and from sales data compiled by SoundScan. Winners are selected by the public. A national sampling of about 20,000 people--taking into account age, sex, geographical location and ethnic origin--are sent ballots. Results are kept secret until the awards are presented.