Paul McCartney and Kylie Minogue were among the honorees Monday at the Q music awards.

McCartney paid tribute to his late wife, Linda, as he was awarded the title of "Q Icon" at the annual ceremony. He thanked his children and his former bandmates in The Beatles, but didn't mention his second wife, Heather Mills. The pair are divorcing.

"I thank Linda for seeing me through some real tough periods," McCartney said.

McCartney, 65, said he still loves the music business.

"I've been doing this since I was just a little bairn and it's still the same for me now — still the same magic, still the same emotion, still the same thrill," he said.

Minogue received a "Q Idol" award.

"Just don't ask me what it means, but I'm very grateful and honored to be receiving this," the 39-year-old Australian pop diva told the audience at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Honorees were chosen by readers of music magazine Q.

Arctic Monkeys were named "best act in the world today," while Kate Nash was named best breakthrough artist. Amy Winehouse, who has been in and out of headlines and rehab in recent months, won the best album prize for "Back to Black," but didn't attend the ceremony.