Her Acceptance Speech and Gratitude
In her acceptance speech, Swift expressed her heartfelt thanks. She emphasized that Billboard counts what fans listen to and care about, and these awards feel like fan awards to her. She mentioned the Eras Tour and the Tortured Poets Department, expressing her gratitude for the fans' embrace of her work. She saw the award as the perfect early birthday present, stating that it meant the world to her.Swift's nominations this year were extensive, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, and many more. She was up for 17 awards, making her the most-nominated woman and second most-nominated artist. She faced tough competition from Zach Bryan, who received 21 nods.
Before the Awards Show
Ahead of the awards show, Swift was tied with Drake for the most Billboard Music Awards wins by any artist, with 39 each. Drake was nominated in eight categories and faced off against Swift in three key categories.Swift's virtual appearance at the awards came days after she concluded her record-breaking Eras Tour in Vancouver on December 8th. The tour started in March 2023 and spanned five continents, grossing over $2 billion with 149 concerts and attracting 10.1 million fans.
Reflections during the Vancouver Show
During her Friday, December 6th show in Vancouver, Swift reflected on her journey over the past two years. She mentioned that she decided to make this tour the longest due to the special connection with the fans. She said it felt like an escape to a planet of joy, passion, and togetherness.Each Eras concert allowed her to relive her favorite memories from past tours while creating new ones. This week, she shared a series of photos via Instagram from her final shows, captioning it with a quote from her hit song "All Too Well."