People: Taylor Swift wins artist, song of the year at iHeartRadio Music Awards
The iHeartRadio Music Awards should be called the iHeartTaylorSwift Awards.
The pop singer cleaned house at the show Sunday, winning artist of the year and song of the year for “Shake It Off,” and even assisted Madonna by strumming her guitar onstage while the pop icon sang a new song.
“More than anything in the world, I just hope that any of the fans watching know how much I adore you … we’ve gotten closer and closer with each year, not further apart,” a glossy-eyed Taylor Swift said at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. “Like, you make me so happy.”
The pop star also won best lyrics for her other hit song, “Blank Space.”
Madonna, whose recent awards show performances were energetic and upbeat, toned it down when singing “Rebel Heart” while Swift played guitar next to her.
The second annual iHeartRadio Music Awards also featured Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown and Iggy Azalea. Guests sat at traditional tables – in the vein of the Golden Globes – instead of typical awards show seats. Brown sat with Ludacris, while Swift’s table included Snoop Dogg, Ryan Seacrest and Timberlake.
The former boy band member, who earned the iHeartRadio Innovator Award for his accomplishments as an entertainer, told the audience that he was called “weird” as a teenager, and offered encouraging words to teens experiencing teasing and bullying.
“Growing up in school, no one ever called me anything close to an innovator, they called me different, they called me weird, they called me a couple of other words I can’t say on TV,” Timberlake said. “So thankfully my mother taught me that being different was a good thing, that being different meant you could actually make a difference, so tonight I want to thank my mom.”
Jason Aldean won country song of the year for “Burnin’ It Down.”
Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and Jessie J won best collaboration for “Bang Bang,” Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” won alternative rock song of the year and Calvin Harris’ “Summer” won dance song of the year.
Jeremih and YG won hip-hop/R&B song of the year for “Don’t Tell ’Em.”
Azalea and Sam Smith – who won best new artist and accepted in a video message – were the top nominees with five apiece.
The birthday bunch
Game show host Peter Marshall is 89. Actor Richard Dysart is 86. Actor John Astin is 85. Actor-director Warren Beatty is 78. Rock musician Graeme Edge (The Moody Blues) is 74. Rock musician Eric Clapton is 70. Actor Justin Deas is 67. Actor Robbie Coltrane is 65. Actor Paul Reiser is 58. Rap artist MC Hammer is 52. Singer Tracy Chapman is 51. Actor Ian Ziering is 51. TV personality Piers Morgan is 50. Singer Celine Dion is 47. Actor Mark Consuelos is 44. Singer Norah Jones is 36.