Taylor Swift tears up as she gives emotional shout-out to Travis Kelce at the VMAs

Taylor Swift had Swifties tearing up as she thanked ‘magical’ boyfriend Travis Kelce while making history by earning her 30th award in her career at the MTV VMAs 2024 on Wednesday night.  The 34-year-old megastar – who led the star-studded red carpet – made a rare comment about about her Kansas City Chiefs star beau, also 34, as she took home the biggest award of the night Video of the Year at the gala event held at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York.  She – who earned seven total awards this evening alone – was recognized for her collab with Post Malone titled Fortnight who also joined her on stage along with her team.

Taylor recognized her boyfriend of nearly a year Travis and his contribution to the music video during her speech as she said: ‘And you know, the things that this video seems very sad when you watch it, but it was like the most fun video to make and something I will always remember is that when I would finish I take and I would say cut and we’d be done with the take, I would always just here someone cheering and like woo from across the studio where we were shooting it and that one person was my boyfriend Travis.  ‘Everything this man touches turns into happiness and find a magic so I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot because I will always remember that. ‘

Taylor Swift had Swifties tearing up as she thanked ‘magical’ boyfriend Travis Kelce while making history by earning her 30th award in her career at the MTV VMAs 2024 on Wednesday night

It was a massive night for Taylor as she earned seven awards total

It was a history making night for Taylor as she became the most decorated solo artist ever by earning 30 VMAs. She is technically tied with Beyonce at that number but the Cowboy Carter artist had previously won 2 with her former girl group Destiny’s Child.  She began her speech by saying: ‘Thank you. Directing this video and putting it together and writing was the most wonderful experience and that’s because of all the people that I got to make it with.

‘And that includes Ethan Hawke and Josh Charfles who were amazing that includes my amazing cinematographer who goes out of his way to work with a female director. And he’s a genius and I can’t believe I got to work with him as well as my amazing production designer. I worked with on the eras tour. Post Malone who we all love so much.’  Taylor beat out an impressive field including Ariana Grande ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’, Billie Eilish ‘Lunch’, Doja Cat ‘Paint The Town Red’, Eminem ‘Houdini’, and SZA ‘Snooze’.

The megastar concluded her speech by thanking her fans as she said: ‘To the fans, I’m always trying to figure out a way to say thank you to you for making my life what it is, for making the Eras Tour for what it’s become, to make the Poet’s Department for what it’s become.  ‘It that’s all you guys for doing that in voting for this award, so thank you mtv, for giving me this opportunity. To thank the fans, so thank you.’

Earlier in the night, Taylor was the first artist to take home the coveted Moon Person.  The megastar earned the win in the Best Collab category alongside Post Malone at the MTV VMAs 2024 on Wednesday night.

Taylor recognized her boyfriend of nearly a year Travis and his contribution to the music video during her speech as she said: ‘And you know, the things that this video seems very sad when you watch it, but it was like the most fun video to make and something I will always remember is that when I would finish I take and I would say cut and we’d be done with the take, I would always just here someone cheering and like woo from across the studio where we were shooting it and that one person was my boyfriend Travis’

Taylor and the 29-year-old rapper earned the major win for their music video for hit single Fortnight.  As the award show landed on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Taylor did not forget to recognize that dark day when she began her acceptance speech  She said: ‘You guys, I wanted to say waking up this morning in New York on September 11th, I’ve been thinking about what happened 23 years ago.

‘Everyone who lost a loved one, everyone that we lost, and that’s the most important thing about today. And everything that happens tonight.’  Taylor went on to thank her collaboration partner as she praised him for his professionalism and kind heartedness.  She explained: ‘But it’s so amazing to have the opportunity to thank and honor the people who work so hard with me on this video. There is a very clear reason why post Malone is everyone in music’s favorite person to collaborate with.

‘And it is because you are so ridiculously talented, you are so versatile, and you are the most down-to-earth person. It honestly, so unfailingly polite, it has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ma’am. Do you want to say something?’

Post then took over as he continued: ‘Absolutely lost for words, one of the most kind and talented people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Just the amount of work and care and love she puts into everything she does for the music video — I watched her tied up to like the operating table thing in the music video and she was just directing the music video from there.

‘It was pretty bada**. But I just wanted to say thank you so very much for listening at thank you so very much, Taylor, and I love you very much.’  Fortnight also earned Best Direction, Best Editing, and Song of Summer as Taylor herself earned Artist of the Year and Best Pop bringing her evening total to seven.  Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter had the biggest upset of the night as she defeated her mentor Taylor.

The 25-year-old hitmaker earned the coveted Song Of The Year Moon Person over the pop megastar for her smash hit Espresso.  Sabrina was taken aback as she began her speech saying: ‘Oh! Well, well, well, hi! I’ve literally never won one of these, this is really special. The first people who won are the fans.  ‘If you clap after everything I say, they’re going to call me off the stage so once I can but I just want to say, you guys are the reason I get to do what I love. But also the reason we could have so much fun and share music with each other. I just feel so grateful, you’re the best of all of us, it’s so cheesy, but I love you.’

The artist – who performed her three hit songs earlier in the evening – finished off her speech by addressing her gratitude.  She concluded: ‘Thank you, thank you to my managers, thank you to my family, my cats and dogs at home watching, and thank you to the people who made Espresso with me. I love making music with you and I can’t wait to share more music with you. And thank you.’  Taylor was nominated for her song Fortnight which was a collaboration with Post Malone. Beyonce ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’, Jack Harlow ‘Lovin On Me’, Kendrick Lamar ‘Not Like Us’, and Teddy Swims ‘Lose Control’ were also nominated.

Another one of the biggest awards of the night came with this year’s recipient of the legendary Video Vanguard Award in Katy Perry.  The 39-year-old singer – born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson – was presented the honor by fiance Orlando Bloom as she planted a massive kiss on him.  She began her acceptance speech by saying: ‘Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one, and for being such a pivotal teacher to so many generations that an artist’s there are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decades-long accidents.’

Katy went on to acknowledge her team including record label Capitol Records and her management team.  She continued: ‘Trust me, it takes a village of strong people, a lot of healthy discourse, and a lot of group chats. My parents and my family, who are an endless source of support and the deepest roots I know. We don’t always agree, but what a lesson that those disagreements can still be full of love.

‘Thank you to MySpace, Warped Tour, and all the bygone places where I found a voice identity, and community so early on. Thank you to my friends who go when my Jetta was repossessed, my Katycats who do, too, and my LGBTQ community, who I recognize I would not be here without, who showed me that you can be both kind and snatched.’  She then went on to reference her latest racy interview which made waves last week as she thanked her longtime partner.

Katy said: ‘Thank you to Orlando for keeping me grounded and doing the dishes, and lastly my Daisy the only flowers I’ll ever need. I feel really excited when I look around music today and see all the amazing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency vulnerability, and authenticity.

‘I’ve heard a lot of do this, don’t say that, where this, don’t cut your hair. One of the biggest reasons I’m standing here right now is because I learned how to block out all of the noise, that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women.’

She concluded the speech with a touching and inspiring message to her fans and viewers as a whole.  Katy finished by saying: ‘I want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art. Turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass. And do what you were born to do just like I was born to do this! 143 comes out September 20th, I love you!’

The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award is a merit given to recording artists and music video director to recognize their ‘outstanding contributions’ and ‘profound impact’ on music videos and popular culture.  Past winners of the Video Vanguard Award include David Bowie, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Pink.  Before her acceptance speech, she performed several of her megahit songs for a medley which began with Dark Horse and ET as she did so while hung up by wires and performing some impressive aerial acrobatics.

She was then joined by rapper Doechii for new song I’m His, He’s Mine before jumping into chart-topping 2010 songs California Gurls and Teenage Dream.  Then she donned a pair of epic metallic wings as she performed the song which put her on the map in 2008 titled I Kissed A Girl before breaking out into beloved anthem song Firework.  Katy then finished off her epic performance with newer track Lifetimes.

Before the event Bruce Gillmer, chief content officer of music at Paramount+ and president of music, music talent, programming and events at Paramount in a statement about the move: ‘Katy is a musical powerhouse and true pop culture icon.  ‘With her game changing creative vision, she has become a global phenomenon and taken over the world’s biggest stages.’  The award comes as Perry prepares to release her upcoming seventh studio album 143 on September 20.

Her comeback single from the album, Woman’s World, flopped in the charts following its release over the summer.  The coveted Best New Artist prize went to one of the hottest artists of the summer, Chappell Roan, as she beat out an impressive field including Benson Boone, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and Tyla.  The 26-year-old Willard, Missouri native accepted the honor as she said: ‘Thank you! Can you believe it? We are at the VMAs! I’m going to read from — I wrote these from my diary. Thank you, MTV and Island Records, and my team and my family and friends.’

The Pink Pony Club hitmaker – who is lesbian – went on to thank the queer artists who have inspired her and sent out a message that she is hoping to inspire other queer kids too.  Chappell concluded: ‘I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, who inspire me. And I dedicate this to queer and trans people who fuel pop. To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joy and my fears. Thank you.  ‘And for all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you, I understand you because I am one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be. Thank you!’

Earlier in the evening Tyla was the big winner as she earned Best Afrobeats for her track Water.   The 22-year-old South African hitmaker – born Tyla Laura Seethal – made sure to promote African music as a whole during her acceptance speech as she said: ‘Oh my gosh! You guys know me and holding awards, I’m not strong enough. Thank you, I’m sorry. Thank you so much, oh, my gosh!

‘Personally, thank you, thank you MTV , everyone, this is such a big moment for Africa, African music. Like, guys, the global impact that it’s had on the world proves that African music can be pop music too! Like, this is just so special, butalso bittersweet because I know there is tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats. It’s a thing and even though Afrobeats has open so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats. I come from South Africa, I represent my culture.’  ‘And for all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you, I understand you because I am one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be. Thank you!’

Earlier in the evening Tyla was the big winner as she earned Best Afrobeats for her track Water.  The 22-year-old South African hitmaker – born Tyla Laura Seethal – made sure to promote African music as a whole during her acceptance speech as she said: ‘Oh my gosh! You guys know me and holding awards, I’m not strong enough. Thank you, I’m sorry. Thank you so much, oh, my gosh!

‘Personally, thank you, thank you MTV , everyone, this is such a big moment for Africa, African music. Like, guys, the global impact that it’s had on the world proves that African music can be pop music too! Like, this is just so special, butalso bittersweet because I know there is tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats. It’s a thing and even though Afrobeats has open so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats. I come from South Africa, I represent my culture.’Ta