Taylor Swift won seven awards at the 2026 iHeart Radio Music Awards, including Artist of the Year. Photo / Getty Images
Taylor Swift won seven awards at the 2026 iHeart Radio Music Awards, including Artist of the Year. Photo / Getty Images
Taylor Swift feels “happy and confident and free” thanks to her fiance Travis Kelce.
The 36-year-old pop superstar returned to the spotlight to pick up the Best Pop Album prize for The Life of a Showgirl at the 2026 iHeart Radio Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeleson Friday and gave a heartfelt speech thanking her American football player partner for “all the vibes” and her fans for inspiring her during her epic The Eras Tour.
After being introduced by singer Raye, Swift told the audience: “The album, The Life of a Showgirl, was really inspired by the energy that I felt, like looking into crowds and seeing you guys and connecting with you every single night.
“And so the album came out with this energy of just feeling really happy and strong and confident and free. And so I want to say thank you to the fans for giving me that feeling.
“I think that this album probably also feels very happy and confident and free because that’s the way that I get to feel every single day of my life, because of my fiance, who’s here too. So thanks for all the vibes.”
Taylor Swift credited her fiance Travis Kelce and fans for inspiring her album, The Life of a Showgirl. Photo / Getty Images
She went on to add: “I love my fans so much for giving me the ability to do this. I love what I do. I love that you’ve allowed me to do it for this long, and I just appreciate every day I get to do it.”
Swift went into the awards show with nine nominations and left with seven trophies including Artist of the Year as well as Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year for The Life of A Showgirl. Her hit track The Fate of Ophelia won Pop Song of the Year, Best Lyrics and Best Music Video.
Swift’s The Eras Tour also got a nod with the Favourite Tour Style prize.
Other big winners at the ceremony included Alex Warren, who won Song of the Year for Ordinary as well as Best New Artist (Pop) and Favourite Debut Album for You’ll Be Alright, Kid.
Sabrina Carpenter was named Pop Artist of the Year, Kendrick Lamar landed Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Hip-Hop Song of the Year for Luther, while Morgan Wallen won Country Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year for I’m The Problem.
John Mellencamp was honoured with the iHeartRadio Icon Award, Ludacris took home the iHeartRadio Landmark Award, Miley Cyrus picked up the iHeartRadio Innovator Award and Warren was honoured with the iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award.
Performers included Ludacris and Warren as well as Lainey Wilson, Raye and TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue.
