Taylor Swift was a huge winner at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards – which took place at several live venues across California on Sunday, November 19th – taking home an incredible 10 of the 20 awards she was nominated for.
The 33-year-old “Lavender Haze” singer accepted all 10 of her awards via a pre-recorded message, as she is currently on the South American leg of her Eras Tour. But she didn’t let the fact that she wasn’t walking the red carpet – or more accurately, the several black carpets – stop her from making a statement with her outfit, which was a dazzling sequin bodysuit accessorized with a statement gold necklace. Her hair was worn in a sleek and straight down do, and she was sporting her signature red lip in the acceptance video too. Congrats, Taylor!
TEN #BBMAs WINS for @taylorswift13 including TOP ARTIST Congratulations!
— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) November 20, 2023
Taylor Swift Accepts 10 Billboard Music Awards In Pre-Recorded Message
The 10 awards Swift won were: Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Billboard Global 200 Artist, Top Billboard Global (excluding US) Artist, Top Country Female Artist, and Top Selling Song for “Anti-Hero.” Swift is now tied with Drake, who took home five awards on Sunday night, for the most wins in BBMAs history.
The “Cruel Summer” hitmaker thanked her fans in her emotional acceptance speech, saying: “The fact that you guys have given me 10 Billboard awards, I’m talking to the fans specifically, none of this happens without you.”
"Billboards base everything off of what you are listening to and what you're passionate about and I'm so honored that this year you made the tour – The Eras Tour – so magical," the "Blank Space" singer continued.
"You went and saw the movie, you cared about my re-recordings. I just like – I love you so much, I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have you in my corner and caring about the music that I make so thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ten million times for this."
The Billboard Music Awards must have been somewhat bittersweet for the "Karma" singer. Although the music star won big on the night, her heart was heavy following the tragic death of one of her fans who attended her Eras Tour at the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, November 17th.
@sweetyhigh Bigger Than The Whole Sky We love you Taylor: gustavo.gual - #taylorswift #tstheerastour #riotstheerastour #riodejaneiro #taylorswiftbrazil #brazil #swifttok #swifties #fyp ♬ original sound - sweetyhigh
Taylor Swift Pays Tribute To 23-Year-Old Fan Who Died At Her Concert
According to reports, 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides fainted in the front row of Swift's concert after reportedly not being allowed to bring her own water into the show, despite Brazil experiencing a record-breaking heatwave. She was given CPR at the scene but could not be revived, and was pronounced dead in hospital.
Ana's tragic death reportedly led to the federal government ordering event organizer Time For Fun (T4F) to ensure there is access to water at all of Swift's concerts in Brazil, and to allow fans to bring in their own bottles of water if needed. Saturday's show was canceled due to the tragedy. When Swift took to the stage on Sunday, she paid tribute to Ana by dedicating the song "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" to her.
Through tears which streamed down her face, Taylor sang: "Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye / You were bigger than the whole sky / You were more than just a short time." "I'm never gonna meet / What could've been, would've been / What should've been you / What could've been, would've been you."
