Taylor Swift won Song of the Year to wrap things up at Monday’s 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards stemming from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California and hosted by Lenny Kravitz.
The 33-year-old superstar prevailed over contemporaries such as Harry Styles, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow and Justin Bieber in the category.
Swift thanked her collaborator Jack Antonoff, 38, in her acceptance speech, calling him ‘like a family member and also a collaborator of dreams.’
She recalled how she initially was not sure that Anti-Hero had the elements to be a huge radio hit, but they forged forward anyway.
She thanked her fans and iHeart for the honor, calling it ‘a really wonderful surprise.’
The latest: Taylor Swift, 33, won Song of the Year at Monday’s 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards stemming from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California and hosted by Lenny Kravitz
Kicking things off, Doja Cat was named as the Most Played Artist of the Year at Monday’s event.
She said in accepting the honors, ‘I haven’t prepared a speech. But I know that I have an amazing team and they deserve all the things in the world. I want to thank you Josh, thank you so much, Jordan, mom as well. We’ve all got to squeeze that in there.’
The songstress, 27, continued, ‘My fans, I really appreciate you and I cannot wait. Thank you. I can’t wait to see what happens in the future iHeart, God bless.’
Becky G & Karol G claimed the prize for Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song Of The Year for their collaboration MAMIII.
Becky G, 26, who accepted the honors, said of the collab, ‘One hit song, I think it really demonstrates that we come together as women in the industry, we can make hit songs and show an example that when we come together we are power houses.
‘We are able to see each other differently and share the light – there is room for everybody at the table, a seat at the table for everybody.’
Swift was earlier named the Innovator of the Year, encouraging her fans in her acceptance speech to never reign in their creativity.
The superstar prevailed over contemporaries such as Harry Styles, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow and Justin Bieber in the category
Swift thanked her collaborator Jack Antonoff, 38, in her acceptance speech, calling him ‘like a family member and also a collaborator of dreams’
‘You know, the Innovator Award, I never singled time woke up in the morning and thought I’m going to go innovate some stuff,’ she said. ‘Things need to be innovated and I’m going to be the one that does it.
‘But when I did do was try to make the right decision for me at the time, whether or not it had ever been successfully done before.’
She continued, ‘I do want to say, the things with these exciting nights and moments, this award I’m so lucky to have gotten is that they are shining a life on the choices I made that worked out, right?
‘The ones that turned out to be good ideas but I really want everyone to know especially young people that the hundreds or thousands of dumb ideas that I have had are what led me to my good ideas. You have to give yourself permission to fail.’
Cole Swindell, 39, won Country Song of the Year for the track She Had Me At Heads Carolina.
Swindell referenced Monday’s school shooting in Nashville in his acceptance speech, ‘Thank you so much. iHeart: Before I say anything else, I just want to send my prayers and lots of love back to our community in Nashville, Tennessee, that is hurting beyond belief right now.
He wrapped up his speech in saying, ‘I wouldn’t be standing here, so as a kid growing up listening to country radio, I’m living proof that you can achieve your dreams. I love all of you, thank you so much. Be good to each other!’
Doja Cat, 27, was named as the Most Played Artist of the Year at Monday’s 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards stemming from Los Angeles and hosted by Lenny Kravitz
The songstress, 27, said, ‘My fans, I really appreciate you and I cannot wait. Thank you. I can’t wait to see what happens in the future iHeart, God bless’
Doja Cat was the first artist honored on the starry night in Southern California
Becky G claimed the prize for Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song Of The Year for her collaboration with Karol G, MAMIII
Becky G, who accepted the honors, said of the collab, ‘One hit song, I think it really demonstrates that we come together as women in the industry’
Taylor Swift was named the Innovator of the Year, encouraging her fans in her acceptance speech to never reign in their creativity
Swift told her fans, ‘You have to give yourself permission to fail’ in creative endeavors
Pink accepted the Icon Award, after an onstage collaboration with Kelly Clarkson and Pat Benetar.
‘This feels like a Christmas miracle,’ she said. ‘I usually do try to joke or be self-deprecating in these moments, but I want to be a better friend to myself tonight.’
Pink cited the concept of vulnerability in her speech, saying, ‘As human beings we are vulnerable from the time we are vulnerable from when we are born until we die – vulnerability is the ability to be wounded.
‘I’ve decided to make vulnerability my life’s work and for those of you around the world that have joined me on this adventure, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful to be alive, I’m grateful I could do this with my one precious life.’
Harry Styles was named the Artist of the Year at the ceremony.
The As It was artist said via a clip, ‘Massive thank you to everyone at iHeart Awards for giving me this prestigious honor – very kind of you.
‘I’m sorry I can’t be there with you tonight. I hope you’re all having a wonderful evening and thank you very much. Take care.’
Swift, Lizzo and Styles topped the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominations list released in January.
iHeartRadio in January released the nominations for the tenth-annual award show, with the Anti‐Hero singer, 33 — whose latest album, Midnights, became UK’s biggest-selling vinyl record of the century — the Truth Hurts hitmaker, 34, and the English chart-topper, 28, leading the pack with eight nods each.
Pink accepted the Icon Award, after an onstage collaboration with Kelly Clarkson and Pat Benetar
She embraced Clarkson after the onstage performance at the award show
Pink cited the concept of vulnerability in her speech, saying, ‘As human beings we are vulnerable from the time we are vulnerable from when we are born until we die – vulnerability is the ability to be wounded’
Cole Swindell, 39, won Country Song of the Year for the track She Had Me At Heads Carolina
The ceremony celebrates the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2022.
Among the categories they are nominated for are Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, with Swift nominated for Anti-Hero, Lizzo for About Damn Time and Styles for As It Was.
In the Song of the Year bracket the trio will battle it out against Latto (Big Energy), Imagine Dragons (Enemy), Jack Harlow (First Class), Justin Bieber (Ghost), Glass Animals (Heat Waves), Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow (Industry Baby), and Doja Cat (Woman).
As for Artist of the Year, they will go up against Beyoncé, Drake, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Jack Harlow, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd.
Dua Lipa, Drake and Jack Harlow were close on their heels, with six nominations each.
‘It’s been a great year for music with so many inspiring hits, we can’t wait to celebrate these artists and songs at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards,’ Tom Poleman, president and chief programming officer for iHeartMedia, said in a statement.
‘Our annual awards show is one of the best in the industry at celebrating the power of music. This year’s show will once again entertain fans with incredible performances and special collaborations, it will be the year’s must-see event.’
This year’s show will also allow fans to vote for their favorite artists in categories including TikTok bop of the year, best lyrics, best fan army, best music video, the social star award, favorite documentary, favorite tour style, favorite tour photographer, favorite residency and favorite use of a sample.