5 DECEMBER 2002
Music channel VH1's Big In 2002 Awards lived up to their name on Wednesday night with a parade of big name celebrities, big time music stars and big screen movie idols strolling up the red carpet to celebrate entertainers who "captivated and inspired" fans throughout the year.

Pierce Brosnan, Pamela Anderson and Christina Aguilera were among the famous faces at the unusual bash, which hands out gongs for categories like "Do I Look Fat In This Fight?" – the best female action sequence in a film – and "Shakespeare In Da Hiz-House", which fetes the year's best performance by a hip-hop artist in a film.

Charlie's Angels star Lucy Liu and rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube were on hand to pick up their trophies for the offbeat categories – she won the former, he won the latter, of course.

The "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" award, which rewards the most ubiquitous song of the year, wasn't won by Kylie Minogue, but Vanessa Carlton's piano anthem A Thousand Miles. Vanessa beat out competition from Avril Lavigne, the teen sensation behind Complicated and Nelly's sizzling Hot In Herre.

A poignant note entered the light-hearted show when hip-hop pioneers Reverend Run and DMC paid tribute to their friend and Run-DMC partner Jam Master Jay, who was murdered late this year. Kid Rock, Public Enemy's Chuck D, Ice Cube and veteran rapper Grandmaster Flash went on to pay tribute to the late DJ, performing an eight-song medley of the old school trio's hits. The surviving members of the group emotionally accepted the King Of Hip-Hop Award in honour of Jay's memory.