Taylor Swift Makes Billboard Music Awards History: Wins Eight Awards
Taylor Swift made Billboard Music Awards history on Sunday night. That’s because the singer received eight music awards, according to Billboard. She has received more awards in Billboard’s history with a total of 20 wins, beating Garth Brooks’ 19-win record.
Taylor’s eight awards included top artist, top Billboard 200 artist, top Hot 100 artist, top song, and fan-voted artist achievement award. Swift also won top Billboard 200 album for “1989” and top female artist.
Swift took home the most trophies, followed by Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea, and Pharrell, who each won three awards, as well as One Direction, Hozier, Jason Aldean, Enrique Iglesias, and John Legend, each of whom won two. The awards, hosted by Chrissy Teigen and Ludacris, aired live on ABC from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Winners for the awards are based purely on Billboard’s chart performances of songs and albums.
The more than three-hour Billboard Awards show opened with Taylor Swift debuting her brand new viral music video, “Bad Blood,” featuring cameos from female models and actresses as villains. Swift was the lone heroine. The action-filled music video includes Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, Mariska Hargitay, Ellen Pompeo, Jessica Alba, Ellie Goulding, and Hayley Williams.
During her acceptance speech for top female artist, Swift thanked her young female fans.
“I thank all the girls I talk to on the internet, and we talk about your feelings and you teach me your teen slang.”
After receiving the fan-voted chart achievement award, Taylor spoke directly to her fans.
“Honestly, the fans — I’m obsessed with you. You guys are the reason this year has happened the way that it’s happened.”
Entertainment Weekly reported that no one had a better Sunday night than Taylor Swift. The pop superstar owned the Billboard Music Awards by winning more trophies than anyone else. The closest to Taylor’s eight awards were just three that were won by Iggy Azalea, Sam Smith, and Pharrell. There was a big gap between the three wins and the eight wins.
Swift kissed her rumored boyfriend Calvin Harris on the cheek and gave him a hug after winning the award for top billboard 200 album for “1989.” She sat next to the DJ-producer-singer during the night except when she was on stage accepting eight awards and giving acceptance speeches. Her friends from her debut video were also in the audience with her.
Taylor had a good day on Sunday. Earlier, she was at her brother Austin’s college graduation at Notre Dame. She acknowledged him during one of her acceptance speeches.
[Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]
