Taylor Swift sent the Dolby Theater into an uproar during the iHeartRadio Awards multiple times, starting when she entered hand-in-hand with fiancé Travis Kelce and ending with her acceptance speech.
“‘The Life of a Showgirl’ was really inspired by the energy I felt looking into crowds and seeing you guys and connecting with you every single night,” Swift said Thursday night, March 26, after winning pop album of the year. “The energy came out was feeling really happy and strong and confident.”
The singer/songwriter wore a mint green corset ensemble with sequin embellishments.
Taylor Swift
Swift took home many trophies including: artist of the year, pop artist of the year, album of the year, pop album of the year, song of the year, pop song of the year, best lyrics (fan-voted), best music video (fan-voted) and favorite tour style (fan-voted): The Eras Tour.
She did not win favorite TikTok dance (fan-voted) for “The Fate of Ophelia,” nor favorite on screen (fan-voted): “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The End of an Era.”
Swift, 36, has attended four of the iHeartRadio music awards, but this is the first awards show to include Kelce. The couple walked into the arena one minute before showtime. The night’s host, rapper Ludacris, gave the couple a shout-out as he opened the show. He said he wanted to be invited back for a third year, so he’d appreciate it if Swift could put in a good word for him. She waved and nodded, smiling along with the joke. In commercial breaks, she hugged Sombr, Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley.
She also congratulated Alex Warren on his win for best new pop artist. The star couple were the first two to jump out of their chairs after his “Ordinary” and “Fever Dream” performance.
A Swift history with iHeartRadio
Stepping back, Swift memorably stepped onstage with Madonna during her first show in 2015, playing guitar during a performance of “Ghosttown.”
In 2023, she returned to accept the Innovator Award, which was given to Miley Cyrus this year.
“You have to give yourself permission to fail,” Swift said in her acceptance speech. “I try as hard as I can not to fail because it’s embarrassing, but I give myself permission to.”
March 29, 2015: Madonna and Taylor Swift perform ‘Ghost Town’ onstage during the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Swift has routinely delivered recorded acceptance speeches when she wasn’t in the building, including for female artist of the year in 2018, pop album of the year in 2020 and 2021, artist of the year in 2024, and Tour of the Century in 2025. Last year, she also shared an exclusive “Mirrorball” performance from opening night of the Eras Tour.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift wins iHeartRadio award for ‘happy’ showgirl tunes
