LIVERPOOL, England – Obamamania met Beatlemania Thursday, as Liverpool hosted an MTV Europe Music Awards show energized by the city's musical heritage and the U.S. presidential election.
Pink and Kanye West took home prizes — Britney Spears won two — and stars on the stage included Beyonce, Kid Rock and former Beatle Paul McCartney.
But the absent president-elect was given star status, too.
Singer Katy Perry, who hosted the show and also was named best new act, appeared in a dress emblazoned with Obama's face and quipped that "maybe Europeans will love us again now."
Her co-host, 30 Seconds to Mars singer Jared Leto, wore an Obama T-shirt and urged the 10,000-strong crowd at Liverpool's Echo Arena to yell "Congrats, Barack."
Ex Beatle Sir Paul McCartney was given a special gong at the MTV Europe Music Awards Thursday in his home city of Liverpool -- and used the event to hail US president-elect Barack Obama.
McCartney was presented with the Ultimate Legend Award, created especially for him, by U2 frontman Bono, who compared him to the pope and described his work as "immortal".
Accepting the honour, McCartney thanked fellow Beatles John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, adding: "Many years ago, there were four little boys born here in Liverpool and we went on to do quite well.
"Thanks to all my family, to all you for coming along, to everyone in Great Britain, to everyone in America for voting in Mr Obama."
Briney Spears won two awards at the event, for best act of 2008 and album of the year for "Blackout". Kanye West won the ultimate urban gong, Pink took most addictive track for "So What" and Katy Perry won best new act.
Other stars also joined in the celebrations over Obama's victory this week -- Sugababes took to the stage to present an award dressed in red, white and blue while actor Jared Leto, whose band 30 Seconds To Mars won the rock out award, got the crowd on their feet in Obama's honour.
"Let's hear it for Barack Obama," he said, to loud cheers from fans.
Among the acts performing live were prominent Obama supporter West and Perry, who also welcomed Obama's election, saying: "Maybe Europe will love us again now".
The awards, voted for by viewers of music video channel MTV, were being watched by around 10,000 fans at the ceremony and some 30 million people on television worldwide.
Liverpool was chosen as one of this year's European capitals of culture partly because of its pop music heritage.
Video Of Obama Wins The Presidency Countdown in Grant Park 11/04/2008
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