Taylor Swift was honored with the Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday evening.
While accepting the award, the 33-year-old singer–songwriter spoke about her desire to try new things rather than focusing on making tried-and-true music.
She also said part of her secret was giving herself ‘permission to fail’ as she tried to shake up her career.
The hitmaker had all eyes on her thanks to her stunning black one-piece ensemble that was covered in glittering sequins.
Her pin-straight blond hair was partially covered up by the look’s intriguing hood.
Honored: Taylor Swift, 33, was honored with the Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday evening. She credited her success to giving herself ‘permission to fail’
Eye-catching: Taylor stunned in a one-piece bodysuit covered in sparkling sequins and featuring a hood
The black outfit featured built-in pointy-toed heels covered in the same sequins.
The bodysuit emphasized her toned legs and was cinched around her wait, and its padded shoulders gave her an imposing outline.
She wore her long hair with chic bangs covering her forehead and framing her impeccably made-up face, which included a tasteful smoky eye.
Taylor’s award was presented by her friend and tour mate Phoebe Bridgers, who appeared in a sleek black sleeveless satin dress with spaghetti straps and a flower-like flourish over her chest.
The guitarist appeared nervous as she serenaded Taylor, who she said inspired her when she was just starting to write her own songs.
‘I love public speaking, I’m not shaking,’ she joked at the start.
Phoebe, who sported platinum-dyed hair, said she recognized as a child that songs were ‘written by adults about their very adults lives,’ but she had to improvise without that knowledge.
‘So when I started writing, I just made stuff up. The songs sucked, and I knew that,’ she said, to laughter from the audience.
On point: She wore her long hair with chic bangs covering her forehead and framing her impeccably made-up face, which included a tasteful smoky eye
Back in black: Taylor’s award was presented by her friend and tour mate Phoebe Bridgers, who appeared in a sleek black sleeveless satin dress with spaghetti straps and a flower-like flourish over her chest
Big event: The guitarist appeared nervous as she serenaded Taylor, who she said inspired her when she was just starting to write her own songs
But she described later listening to a country radio station in the car with her mother — who was in the audience — a few years later, and that was when she had a revelation after being introduced to Taylor and one of her songs.
‘I heard a girl not much older than me, singing a song that she wrote about her own life. And the song really was good. As I grew up, so did Taylor, and so did her songs,’ Phoebe said.
Next up, the award ceremony showed a tribute video featuring a number of Taylor’s friends and collaborators as they praised her as a performer and songwriter. Some had an obvious connect to Swift, while others appeared to merely be fans, such as Shang Chi star Simu Liu.
Among the parade of stars were Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness, Miles Teller, Dolly Parton, Ice Spice, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and Justin Timberlake.
Dolly noted how she and Taylor had similar career paths, as they went from country musicians to pop stars — and the two have even done occasional acting work as well.
Simu praised her ability to make ‘beautiful music’ out of all the ‘negativity’ she encounters in the world, while Ed said Taylor’s Midnights single Anti-Hero was one of the best pop songs ever written.
Jonathan Van Ness saluted Taylor for advocating in favor of ‘queer and trans people’ during his talking head segment.
Selena said that Taylor didn’t ‘sign up’ to be a ‘role model’ for millions of fans, but it was something people just have ‘inherently inside of you.’
Taylor opened her speech by thanking her friends who appeared in the video, as well as her tour mate Phoebe.
Eye-opening: Phoebe described hearing Taylor on a country music station early in her career as a pivotal moment of inspiration
Nailed it! The songstress rocked a dark shade of nail polish to complement her striking ensemble
Star-studded: Before she came up on stage, a tribute video featuring Taylor’s friends, collaborators and admirers. Among them were Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness, Miles Teller, Dolly Parton, Ice Spice, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, Simu Liu and Justin Timberlake
Same track: Dolly compared Taylor’s shift from country to pop music to her own career trajectory, and the two have even acted occasionally
Taking new paths: She joked that she never woke up thinking she was going to ‘innovate some stuff,’ but she did always try to make the ‘best decision’ for herself, whether or not there was a track record of success for that approach
Loyalty: The Folklore singer appreciated her fans for sticking by her, even as her songwriting changed and she shifted genres
What a pair: During the ceremony, Taylor snapped a selfie with Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav
She joked that she never woke up thinking she was going to ‘innovate some stuff,’ but she did always try to make the ‘best decision’ for herself, whether or not there was a track record of success for that approach.
She said people in her business were often focused on what had a ‘precedent,’ and new ideas and approaches weren’t often appreciated.
The Folklore singer appreciated her fans for sticking by her, even as her songwriting changed and she shifted genres.
She concluded by noting that she gives herself permission to fail, and she urged her fans to give themselves that same permission.
Src: dailymail.co.uk
