1/5
Taylor Swift received the iHeartRadio Innovator award. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI |
License Photo
March 27 (UPI) -- Taylor Swift picked up Song of the Year for "Anti-Hero" and Harry Styles was named Artist of the Year at Monday's iHeartRadio Music Awards.
It was the second award of the night for Swift, who also received the iHeartRadio Innovator Award. Rocker Phoebe Bridgers presented Swift with the Innovator award, thanking for inspiring her to become a songwriter. The award is given each year to an artist who has contributed to popular culture. Previous recipients include Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, U2, Bruno Mars, Chance the Rapper and Alicia Keys.
In accepting the award, Swift said she never set out to be an innovator as a musician.
"What I did ... was try to make the right decision for me at the time whether or not it had ever been successfully done before," she said.
"I think the coolest ... choices are the ones that set a new precedent."
Swift was also nominated for Best Lyrics and Best Music Video for "Anti-Hero;" Artist of the Year; Best Fan Army; TikTok Bop of the Year for "Bejeweled;" and Favorite Use of a Sample for her song "Question...?," which samples her song "Out of the Woods."
Styles wasn't in attendance at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, but gave his thanks for the Artist of the Year Award in a prerecorded video. His photographer, Lloyd Wakefield, also won Favorite Tour Photographer, which was voted for on social media.
Doja Cat, meanwhile, was named Most Played Artist of the Year.
"I have an amazing team and they deserve all the thanks in the world," Doja Cat said while accepting the award. "And my fans, I really appreciate you."
Doja Cat's songs had 3.6 billion plays on the streaming platform and radio stations last year.
The artist was also up for Song of the Year for "Woman;" Artist of the Year; twice for Best Collaboration with The Weeknd for "You Right" and with Post Malone for "I Like You (A Happier Song); and Favorite Use of a Sample for her song "Vegas," which sampled Shonka Dukureh's "Hound Dog."
Pink opened the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday with a rendition of hit "Trustfall," complete with backup dancers performing acrobatic feats on a series of trampolines. Pink was later presented with the iHeartRadio Icon Award, which goes to artists who have had an impact on pop culture, longevity and continued relevance on the radio and on tour.
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo paid tribute to Pink by performing her 2001 hit "Just Like a Pill." Kelly Clarkson, who presented the award to Pink, sang her song "Just Give Me a Reason." Pink joined her from her seat in the audience before joining on stage. Pink finished off the medley with "What About Us."
"You have watched me do this, sifting through life's messiness for 20 years," she said. "I just find it necessary.
"As human beings we are vulnerable from the time we're born to the time we die and most of us spend of lives running from it."
Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song of the Year went to Becky G & Karol G for "MAMIII." Karol G is also up for Latin Pop/Reggaeton Artist of the Year and Best Music Video for "Don't Be Shy" with Tiësto.
Rocker Lenny Kravitz hosted the night's festivities at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. He opened his introduction by acknowledging the six victims killed in a shooting at a small private school in Nashville earlier in the day.
"Our hearts are heavy," Kravitz said. "Nashville, we love you and America, we must do better."
Country singer Cole Swindell also offered up his prayers, saying news of the shooting is "hurting beyond belief right now." He remarked on the shooting while accepting the Country Song of the Year award for "She Had Me At Heads."
Kravitz also performed his biggest hits, opening with "American Woman" before hitting "Fly Away" and "Are You Gonna Go My Way."
Keith Urban later sang a medley of his hits, including "Brown Eyes Baby" and "Somewhere in My Car." Rapper Latto also performed her songs "Big Energy" and "Lottery."
All four best new artists sang their hit songs back to back, including Best New Pop Artist Jax with "Victoria's Secret," Best New Country Artist Cody Johnson with "'Til You Can't," Best New R&B Artist Muni Long with "Hrs & Hrs" and Best New Artist (Alternative & Rock) Giovannie and the Hired Guns with "Ramon Ayala."
Other award winners included Sam Smith and Kim Petras' "Unholy" (Best Collaboration); Future, Drake and Tems' "WAIT FOR U" (Hip-Hop Song of the Year); Imagine Dragons (Best Duo/Group of the Year); Morgan Wallen (Country Artist of the Year); Papa Roach (Rock Artist of the Year); David Guetta and Bebe Rexha's "I'm Good (Blue)" (Dance Song of the Year); Anabel England (Dance Artist of the Year); and Grupo Firme (Regional Mexican Artist of the Year).
