Taylor Swift continues to make headlines – first with her support for Kamala Harris, now as a winner at the MTV Video Music Awards. In doing so, she is making history and thanking her boyfriend.
In front of cheering fans, Taylor Swift (“Fortnight”) makes history: the superstar wins seven awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, including the top category for Video of the Year. She achieved this with the hit song “Fortnight” from the album “The Tortured Poets Department”, for which she brought rapper Post Malone on board.
At the end of the three-hour trophy show, the 34-year-old beat out Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and Eminem, among others. She has now won this top award five times in the course of her career, more than any other artist. She also set a record: with 30 VMA trophies in her career, Swift has overtaken the previous leader Beyoncé with 25 awards as a solo artist.
Swift thanks a special man
Swift also won categories such as artist of the year, song of the summer, best collaboration (with Post Malone) and pop. Fans at the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York, couldn’t stop cheering as Swift thanked her team and a very special man in her life in her acceptance speech.
It was a wonderful experience to shoot the “Fortnight” video. It was also a lot of fun because her boyfriend Travis was constantly cheering her on during filming, Swift said. “Everything that this man touches turns into happiness and joy and magic,” she raved about football player Travis Kelce (34).
Swift promotes voting
Swift also thanked her fans, the “Swifties,” for voting for her in these awards. And then she struck a political tone. “Please register to vote for something else that is very important – the upcoming presidential election,” Swift said.
The day before, the singer had spoken out in support of Harris shortly after the TV debate in which Democrat Kamala Harris met Republican Donald Trump for the first time. She would vote for Harris and her vice president, Tim Walz, in the presidential election on November 5, the singer announced in a post on Instagram. Swift has enormous influence among her fans – especially young women, an important voting group.
In a thank you speech at the beginning of the show, Swift also remembered the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington, which claimed almost 3,000 lives. When she woke up in New York, she thought about what happened 23 years ago, Swift said, remembering “everyone we lost.” That was the most important thing on this day.
Not only Swift wins awards
Rapper Eminem, who opened the show with a performance of his songs “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me,” won two awards in the hip-hop and best visual effects categories. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion (29, “Hiss,” “Body”), who was on stage as host for the first time, also received two trophies.
Sabrina Carpenter (25) won her first ever VMA trophy in the Song of the Year category with her hit song “Espresso”. The award in the rock category went to Lenny Kravitz for “Human”. Chappell Roan (26, “Good Luck, Babe!”) was named best new artist.
Katy Perry floats above the fans
US singer Katy Perry (39, “Teenage Dream”) received the honorary Video Vanguard Award. The trophy pays tribute to the influence of the respective award winner on the music scene. Previous winners include Missy Elliott, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Madonna.
Perry thrilled the audience with a nearly ten-minute medley of her greatest hits. At times she floated in the air, danced or performed with huge butterfly wings. Her partner, actor Orlando Bloom, introduced Perry with loving words. Her fans know Perry as a superstar who creates music with love, light and a very special sense of humor. “I know her as a mother and partner who brings the same love and joy to our family.”
Perry and Bloom are parents of three-year-old Daisy. Their daughter is watching the show at home for the very first time, Perry said before the show began. “Don’t stay up too late and eat your broccoli,” the singer warned with a laugh.
Cool performances
Daring costumes, bare skin and spectacular performances were on display. Singer Chappell Roan appeared on stage in a medieval outfit, set a castle backdrop on fire with a flaming arrow and made her celebrated debut at the VMAs with “Good Luck, Babe!”
Shawn Mendes introduced his new song “Nobody Knows”, Lenny Kravitz rocked, Sabrina Carpenter danced to hits from her album “Short n’ Sweet” with an alien and an astronaut figure.
The awards have been given out since 1984. Fans can vote for their favorites online. The trophies depict an astronaut figure holding an MTV flag.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
