Late Mariah Carey delays World Music Awards - report

The World Music Awards kicked off more than an hour late on Tuesday (27May14) after opening act Mariah Carey was late taking to the stage, according to a report.

The Hero hitmaker opened the show in Monaco with a performance of new song Meteorite prior to picking up the Pop Icon Award, but she was delayed by around 60 minutes, prompting organisers to push the evening's schedule back.

Editors at Britain's The Sun newspaper report stars including Miley Cyrus were kept waiting, and the singer poked fun at Carey's tardiness in her acceptance speech as she picked up a prize, telling the crowd, "Thank God! I thought this party was never going to get started."

Cyrus, who brought her younger brother Braison as her date for the event at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, was named the World's Best Female Artist and her controversial Wrecking Ball music promo landed the trophy for World's Best Pop Video.

Ricky Martin was honoured with the Latin Legend accolade and Welsh singer Dame Shirley Bassey was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Cyrus closed the show with an emotional rendition of Wrecking Ball, while other performers included Jason DeRulo, Fall Out Boy, Flo Rida and British rapper Tinie Tempah.

The complete list of winners will be revealed when the show airs on Wednesday (28May14).