A Night of Triumph for Taylor Swift
The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards turned out to be a massive celebration of Taylor Swift’s incredible accomplishments, as the 35-year-old pop megastar dominated the event with a total of nine awards. Held on March 17, 2025, at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater, the ceremony honored Swift’s monumental contributions to the music world, with her winning the coveted Artist of the Year award. Though she didn’t attend in person, Swift recorded a heartfelt acceptance speech for the Tour of the Century prize, recognizing the unmatched success of her Eras Tour.
The singer admitted that the tour was “the most challenging thing” she had ever undertaken. Swift expressed gratitude towards her band, crew, and tour mates, acknowledging their hard work, without which she couldn’t have taken on the immense challenges of such a large-scale production.
“I really can’t tell you how much this means to me,” she began. “I accept this on behalf of all my tour mates, my band, everyone who toured with us, our crew.” The Shake It Off hitmaker went on to explain that the experience taught her the value of rising to challenges, noting that “the greatest challenges in life end up being something that you are so proud of or end up being the most gratifying feeling in the end.”
Swift was quick to thank her fans, acknowledging that their unwavering support made the monumental success of the tour possible. “The only reason I was able to take on those challenges,” she stated, “is because of the fans. You had the passion and the generosity to care about traveling to see us on tour in all these places all over the world.” In addition to winning Artist of the Year, Swift also took home Favorite Surprise Guest for bringing her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, on stage during her Wembley Stadium show. The lighthearted moment featured Kelce dressed in a tuxedo as part of a sketch in which he lifted Swift to a couch after she pretended to swoon. Furthermore, her iconic surprise songs segment earned Swift the Favorite Tour Tradition award.
Gracie Abrams: Breakthrough Artist of the Year with a Heartfelt Tribute
Gracie Abrams, a rising star in the pop scene, was another major winner at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, taking home the prestigious Breakthrough Artist of the Year award. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter used her acceptance speech to express deep gratitude toward her collaborators, including Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, both of whom gave her the opportunity to tour with them. Abrams had been an opening act for Swift’s Eras Tour and Rodrigo’s Sour Tour, and she made sure to thank them for their invaluable support.
“For the incredible artists who allowed me to share their stages at different times and in different ways—Taylor and Olivia, Noah Kahan, The National,” she said. “And for each of the openers who have supported me on my tours, I’m in awe of all of you.” Abrams, who received widespread recognition for her heartfelt performances and powerful songwriting, also praised the creativity, loyalty, and support of her dedicated fan base.
Her speech took a reflective turn when she addressed the uncertain times the world is currently facing, emphasizing the importance of music and live performances as a source of hope. “We’re living in tricky times,” Abrams said, “but when we gather like this at a concert or a festival, we remind each other that there’s still so much light and kindness between and among us.”
Sarah Snook’s Broadway Journey and Swift’s Impact
In another fascinating intersection between Taylor Swift’s influence and the world of entertainment, Succession star Sarah Snook shared how she relied on Swift’s training regimen to prepare for her Broadway role in The Picture of Dorian Gray. In the challenging production, Snook plays all 26 characters, including the titular character who trades his soul for eternal youth. The demanding role requires Snook to perform an active, physically intense show every night, and she revealed how she turned to Swift’s workout routine for inspiration.
Snook spoke about adopting Swift’s pre-tour workout regimen, which included no alcohol, no caffeine, and plenty of sleep to maintain peak performance. “I do my lines at pace on a treadmill,” Snook said, recalling how she’d heard about Swift’s approach to training for her Eras Tour. “I thought, ‘That’s a genius idea. I’m gonna do that.’”
Swift’s pre-tour routine became famous after she revealed she’d been running on the treadmill while singing through her entire setlist to prepare for her demanding three-hour shows. Swift’s combination of running fast during upbeat songs and jogging or walking during slower ones was an innovative approach that helped her stay in top shape throughout her 149-show tour.
Snook, who also gave birth to her daughter just six months before signing on to star in Dorian Gray, shared the realities of balancing motherhood with the rigorous demands of Broadway. Reflecting on her decision to take the role, she admitted that she had no idea how difficult the experience would be. “My husband has said, if either of us had seen the show, he would have convinced me not to do it,” Snook confessed. Despite the challenges, Snook has embraced the role, drawing strength and inspiration from fellow artists like Swift, whose work ethic continues to inspire not just her fans, but also those in other areas of entertainment.
