Celine Dion (left) and Patti LaBelle receive special recognition at the 2007 World Music Awards, airing Sunday night at 8 on ABC.

AP) MONTE CARLO, Monaco:

Canadian singer Celine Dion and R&B queen Patti LaBelle were honoured at the World Music Awards for their outstanding careers, while British newcomer Mika took home a clutch of prizes.

Dion, who has sold 200 million albums worldwide, received the highest accolade - the Legend Award - at the star-studded ceremony in Monaco on Sunday. In presenting the honour, the tiny principality's Prince Albert II said Dion's voice "soothes the world's hearts and creates smiles of love across the face of the world".

Recalling her start as the youngest performer among 14 musical siblings, Dion dedicated the award to her family. "Every time I go on stage, it's all of them going on stage with me," she said in her acceptance speech in English and French.

Dion then performed Taking Chances, the first single from her forthcoming album of the same name, slated for release later this month.

Best-selling female artist

The 39-year-old diva from Quebec already holds a World Music Awards prize for the world's best-selling female artiste of all time. She won the so-called Diamond Award in 2004.

The show paid tribute to 63-year-old Patti LaBelle for her enduring contribution to R&B. LaBelle, whose career stretches back to the 1950s, had the entire audience, including the prince, on their feet dancing to a rendition of Lady Marmalade.

"I love this show because it unites the world with music; we need peace in the world," LaBelle said.

British pop star Mika was the big winner of the night, capturing awards for best-selling new artiste, best-selling male entertainer, best-selling pop/rock artiste and best-selling British artiste. Struck down by laryngitis, he was unable to sing his runaway debut hit Grace Kelly, which makes reference to Prince Albert's mother, the Hollywood actress who became princess of Monaco upon her marriage in 1956.

Hip hop artiste Akon, who has been riding high on world charts, picked up prizes for best-selling R&B male artiste, best-selling African artiste and best-selling Internet artiste.

"You are the witnesses to seeing me receive any kind of award for music for the first time in my life," the Senegalese-American told the audience, lamenting having been skipped over for all previous honours for which he had been in contention.

Pop sensation Rihanna, a native of Barbados, was named enter-tainer of the year as well as best-selling pop female artiste, while Canada's Avril Lavigne received awards for best-selling pop/rock female artiste and best-selling Canadian artiste.