T SWIZZLE SIZZLES
TAYLOR’S DECADE OF HITS TOASTED AT AMAs
She shook off the bad blood — and sang her heart out.
Taylor Swift was named Artist of the Decade at the American Music Awards Sunday night amid controversy with her previous music label. She celebrated the occasion by performing a career-spanning medley of her hits.
“All any of the artists, or really anyone in this room, wants is to create something that will last … I’m so lucky to get to do this,” the country star turned pop music icon said as she accepted the award at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old singer, wearing a white shirt with the names of her album titles on it, began her performance with “The Man,” one of her newest singles, and “Love Story,” one of her oldest hits, before transitioning to “I Knew You Were Trouble.”
Then she performed “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off,” both off of the breakthrough “1989” album before ending with “Lover,” which she performed while donning a cascading pink cape and seated at an ornate piano.
Swift was joined during her “Shake It Off ” performance by fellow stars — and BFFs — Camila Cabello and Halsey.
Earlier in the broadcast, Swift won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album for “Lover,” giving her 24 AMAs during her career, tying her with Michael Jackson for most all-time. Her Artist of the Decade award gave her sole possession of the all-time mark.
During her acceptance speech, Swift praised her current record label, Universal Republic, as she took a subtle swipe at her former label Big Machine as well as its owner, Scooter Braun, and its former CEO Scott Borchetta.
“I really love my record label, Universal Republic. Thank you for being so generous and letting me make whatever music I want to make,” Swift said, wearing a green, asymmetrical outfit featuring shorts and a skirt and thigh-high boots.
There’s been bad blood between Swift and Braun since June, when he bought Big Machine, and in effect the rights to Swift’s old recordings. Swift bashed the deal at the time and claimed she was not given the chance to buy her old master recordings.
Earlier this month, Swift claimed Braun and Borchetta would block her from performing her older Big Machine songs at Sunday’s show. But a deal was reached ahead of the show for Swift to perform her medley.
Swift’s 10-minute performance wasn’t the only moment that had people talking.
Early in the show, both Billie Eilish and Halsey were bleeped while giving acceptance speeches.
After collecting the award for Favorite Artist-Alternative Rock, Eilish, 17, said, “Thank you for the fans and the supports and anyone who gives an eff about me, I appreciate you.” The “eff” was bleeped out.
After Halsey’s “Without Me” won the Favorite Song-Pop/Rock award, the N.J.-born singer was similarly cut while thanking her fans.
“I’m thankful to the fans because they’re the people who really give a s—about music,” the singer said.