Awards
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Billboard celebrated the music industry’s most talented, impactful women at the 2023 Women in Music awards at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Mar. 1).
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Beyond honoring the 2023 Woman of the Year SZA and her many accomplishments — including her 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her latest album, SOS — artists like Ivy Queen, Rosalía, Lana Del Rey, Kim Petras, TWICE, Lainey Wilson, Doechii, Becky G and Latto were also honored with their own awards at the ceremony. Rosalía was the event’s first-ever Producer of the Year, Ivy Queen accepted the Icon Award, Lana Del Rey was the night’s Visionary, Kim Petras took home the Chartbreaker award, TWICE was the Breakthrough artist, Lainey Wilson was awarded the Rulebreaker honor, Doechii was honored as the Rising Star, Becky G accepted the Impact award and Latto was 2023’s Powerhouse.
“I really just want my life to be more than music,” SZA said during her unscripted, moving acceptance speech, “to be more than an artist. I want to serve others, I want to serve people, I want to be open and available for whatever God wants for me, and saying yes to everything that’s scary, to everything that feels like it’s not for you or where you don’t belong, is really the only way where we walk through those doors.”
She concluded with a powerful affirmation: “You just have to say yes to the possibility,” she said. “And thank y’all for saying yes to me.”
If you missed out on the official livestream, or just need another dose of inspiration, check out all of the 2023 Billboard Women in Music acceptance speeches below.
SZA (Woman of the Year)
Ivy Queen (Icon)
Lana Del Rey (Visionary)
Rosalía (Producer of the Year)
TWICE (Breakthrough)
Becky G (Impact)
Latto (Powerhouse)
Kim Petras (Chartbreaker)
Lainey Wilson (Rulebreaker)
Billboard’s 2023 Women in Music event took over the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Mar. 1), and the night was filled with love, support and celebration for the music industry’s most impactful women.
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Beyond honoring the 2023 Woman of the Year SZA and her many accomplishments — including her 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her latest album, SOS — artists like Rosalía, Lana Del Rey, Kim Petras, TWICE, Lainey Wilson, Doechii, Becky G and Latto were also honored with their own awards at the ceremony. Rosalía was the event’s first-ever Producer of the Year, Lana Del Rey was the night’s Visionary, Kim Petras took home the Chartbreaker award, TWICE was the Breakthrough artist, Lainey Wilson was awarded the Rulebreaker honor, Doechii was honored as the Rising Star, Becky G accepted the Impact award and Latto was 2023’s Powerhouse.
Additionally, a number of the star-studded honorees took the stage to deliver some incredible performances and celebrate their achievements.
If you happened to miss out on the official Women in Music livestream or you’re hoping to relive some of the night’s musical moments, we’ve got you covered. See below for all of the 2023 Billboard Women in Music onstage performances.
TWICE
Kim Petras
Becky G
Latto
Doechii
Lainey Wilson
Billboard‘s 2023 Women in Music event took place at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (March 1), and brought out the several of the biggest and brightest stars who have cemented their impact within the music industry over the past year. In between acceptance speeches — Lana Del Rey, SZA, Rosalía were among the few to go home with an award — attendees were treated to performances from TWICE, Becky G, Kim Petras and more, but which was your favorite?
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After receiving the Breakthrough Artist Award, the K-pop stars delivered a stunning showcase of its second-ever English single, “Moonlight Sunrise,” expertly performing the track’s choreography in unison, much to the delight of ONCEs in the audience.
Becky G, recipient of the Impact Award, took to the stage to perform a solo rendition of her Karol G collab “Mamiii,” backed by a guitarist, percussionist and two backing vocalists. “Lo que no sirve, que no estorbe/ Te metiste autogol por torpe/ Te quedó grande este torque/ Ya no estoy pa que de mí te enamores, baby/ Sin visa ni pasaporte/ Mandé tu falso amor de vacaciones,” she sang in Spanish.
Kim Petras, who used her Chartbreaker Award acceptance speech to plead for women’s body autonomy, performed her recently released dark-pop banger “brrr” under a blanket of billowing fog.
Doechii, Latto and Lainey Wilson also graced the stage for Women in Music, but which performance was your favorite? Vote in our poll below.
In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s look at records that women have set at awards shows. These aren’t simply instances of the first woman to do this or that; these are cases where a woman holds a record that isn’t gender-specific.
In some cases, women are absolutely crushing it in a particular category. Billie Eilish set a record in 2020 as the youngest person to win the Grammy for album of the year. She was just 18 when she won for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? The old record was held by Taylor Swift, who was 20 when she won for Fearless. Before that, it was held by Alanis Morissette, who was 21 when she won for Jagged Little Pill. And before that it was held by Barbra Streisand who was 22 when she won for The Barbra Streisand Album. Between them, these four women have held this record continuously since Streisand first set it in May 1964.
The all-time youngest winners in the three other Big Four Grammy categories are also women. Eilish is the youngest winner for record of the year, for “Bad Guy.” Lorde, 17 at the time, was the youngest winner for song of the year, for “Royals.” LeAnn Rimes, just 14 at the time, was the youngest winner for best new artist.
A total of 14 artists have received Grammy nominations in each of the Big Four categories — album, record and song of the year, plus best new artist — in the same calendar year. A whopping ten of those artists have been women, from Bobbie Gentry (1967) to Olivia Rodrigo (2021).
Women also rule at the MTV Video Music Awards. The four artists who have won the most Moon Persons (it still doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily as Moonman, does it?) are all women – Beyoncé (27), Madonna (20), Lady Gaga (18) and Swift (14).
In the history of the Academy Awards, just four people have been nominated for Oscars for acting and songwriting in the same year. Three are women: Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga and Cynthia Erivo.
Here are 20 more awards show records held by women:
Most Grammy wins: Beyoncé (32)
Image Credit: Francis Specker/CBS via GI
Beyoncé made history last month when she surpassed the late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti for the most Grammy wins by anyone ever. Solti won 31 awards from 1962 to 1997. In addition, Beyoncé is tied with her husband Jay-Z for the most Grammy nominations (88 each).
Only artist to sweep Grammys for album, record and song of the year twice: Adele
The British superstar accomplished that sweep with 21 and its megahit “Rolling in the Deep” (2011) and repeated the feat five years later with her follow-up 25 and its power ballad “Hello” (2016).
Longest winning streak in any Grammy category: Aretha Franklin (eight years)
The Queen of Soul won best R&B vocal performance, female every year from 1967-74. That’s a lot of “Respect.”
Youngest artist to receive Grammy nods in each of the Big Four categories in one year: Billie Eilish
Image Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/GI for The Recording Academy
The phenom was just 17 when she was nominated in all four categories in November 2019, which allowed her to surpass the previous record-holder, Mariah Carey (who was 20 when she swept the 1990 noms). Eilish, who had turned 18 by the time of the awards ceremony in January 2020, is also the younger of the two artists who have won each of the Big Four awards in one year.
Artist with the most American Music Awards: Taylor Swift (40)
In addition to her overall lead, Swift is the artist with the most AMAs for artist of the year (seven) and for favorite music video (three).
Artist with the most ACM Awards: Miranda Lambert (38)
In addition to her overall lead, the Texan is the Academy of Country Music’s leader for most awards in these three key categories: female vocalist of the year (nine), album of the year (five) and song of the year (as a songwriter, three).
Artist with the most BET Awards: Beyoncé (33)
Bey is also the artist with the most Soul Train Awards (25).
Youngest artist to win Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs: Janet Jackson
Jackson was just 24 when she won the award in 1990. She also won a competitive award that year, best choreography in a video for “Rhythm Nation,” and performed “Black Cat” on the telecast.
Only artist to receive three VMAs for music video of the year: Taylor Swift
Swift won for “Bad Blood” (collab with Kendrick Lamar, 2015), “You Need to Calm Down” (2019), and “All Too Well: The Short Film” (2022). The later video made Swift the first artist to win music video of the year for an entirely self-directed video. Lamar, Swift and Lil Nas X had previously won for videos they co-directed.
Only songwriter to receive an honorary Oscar: Diane Warren
Warren received the award at a gala in Los Angeles in November 2022. She followed it up by becoming only the fifth person to receive an honorary Oscar and a nod for a competitive Oscar in the same awards year.
Only person to win Oscars for both acting and songwriting: Barbra Streisand
Image Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via GI
The prodigiously talented multi-hyphenate won best actress for Funny Girl (1968, in a headline-making tie with Katharine Hepburn) and best original song for composing “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)” (1976).
Most Oscars for acting: Katharine Hepburn (four)
The great star also holds the records for the longest time span between first and last Oscar nominations and between first and last Oscars — 49 years from Morning Glory (1932-33) through On Golden Pond (1981).
Most Oscar nominations for acting: Meryl Streep (21)
Seventeen of those nominations are for best actress, the other four are for best supporting actress. Streep landed her first Oscar nod for The Deer Hunter (1978); her most recent for The Post (2017).
Youngest Oscar recipient: Shirley Temple
The OG America’s Sweetheart, who lifted a nation’s spirits during the Great Depression, was six when she was awarded an honorary Oscar “in grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment during the year 1934.”
Youngest winner of a competitive acting Oscar: Tatum O’Neal
The second-generation star was 10 when she won best supporting actress for Paper Moon (1973).
Youngest winner of a lead acting Oscar: Marlee Matlin
Matlin was 21 when she won best actress for Children of a Lesser God (1986). Her achievement is all the more impressive owing to her deafness.
First actor/actress to win an Oscar for performing in a language other than English: Sophia Loren
The Italian actress and screen beauty won best actress for Two Women (1961).
Most Tonys won for performances: Audra McDonald (six)
Image Credit: Andrew H. Walker/WireImage for Tony Awards Productions
The actress/singer’s Tonys span the years 1994-2014. McDonald is also the only person to win Tonys in all four categories in which a performer is eligible—for playing both lead and featured roles in both plays and musicals.
Most Tony nominations for performances (tie): Julie Harris and Chita Rivera (10 each)
Harris’ nominations span the years 1952-97. Rivera’s nods span the years 1961-2015. In addition, both women have received special Tony Awards for lifetime achievement in the theatre.
Most Emmys won by a performer (tie): Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (eight each)
Leachman’s Emmys span the years 1973-2006 and include two awards each for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Malcolm in the Middle. Louis-Dreyfus’ span the years 1996-2017. Louis-Dreyfus also holds the record for most Emmys won for a playing the same role in the same series. She won six Emmys for playing Selina Meyer on Veep from 2012–17.
Ariana DeBose, who won an Oscar for best supporting actress last year for West Side Story and received even more attention recently after performing a piece of special material at the BAFTAs on Feb. 19, is set to present on this year’s Oscars on March 12. Will DeBose address the social-media brouhaha over her BAFTAs performance? Place your bets.
Other presenters include: Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), who made an appearance on last month’s Grammy Awards, meeting superfan Adele and later presenting her with the award for best pop solo performance; Janelle Monáe, who has juggled film and recording careers, finding success in both; and Questlove, who served as music supervisor of the 2021 Oscar telecast and won an Oscar last year for his directorial debut, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which won best documentary feature.
Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy, Deepika Padukone, Zoe Saldaña, Donnie Yen and Troy Kotsur will also present.
Kotsur won best supporting actor last year for CODA. Last year’s best actress winner, Jessica Chastain, wasn’t included in this first batch of presenters. Last year’s best actor winner, Will Smith, was barred from attending any Academy events for 10 years after slapping Chris Rock on last year’s show.
The announcement was made on Thursday (March 2) by executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner and executive producer Molly McNearney. The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show in the run-up to the ceremony.
The producers have announced performances from four of the five nominees for best original song. The only one they haven’t yet announced is Lady Gaga performing “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 12 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The show will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
The outpouring of love for 2023 Woman of the Year SZA at Wednesday night’s Billboard Women in Music Awards was the perfect example of the celebratory, overjoyed mood at the ceremony.
Not only did SZA have a very enthusiastic Coi Leray hyping up her many accomplishments this year and beyond — including her 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her latest album, SOS — but she also had a surprise video message from fellow superstar Lizzo, singing her praises (literally): She started the pre-recorded message by singing her favorite SZA song, “Warm Winds” from 2014’s Z.
“You are the real deal. You are such a genuine human being, a genuine artist, a poet, a songwriter, an emoter who’s a once-in-a-lifetime, once-in-a-generation talent,” Lizzo said, adding, “We don’t deserve you!”
SZA was one of many honorees at the Billboard Women in Music Awards, and below we’re remembering our favorite moments from the night. See the best moments from Lana Del Rey, TWICE, Rosalía and more here:
Kim Petras in the Crowd
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC
In addition to performing her latest single “Brrr” and being presented the Chartbreaker Award, Kim Petras was the MVP of the YouTube Theater crowd. She flitted among the VIP tables next to the stage to rub elbows with the other powerhouse women in attendance — including fellow German superstar Heidi Klum, who made sure to give Petras a hug before leaving the show – and danced enthusiastically for each intimate performance, especially the show-ending number “Moonlight Sunrise” from K-pop nonet TWICE, as you can see below.
Rosalía Gets Real About the Life of a Producer
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC
The importance of receiving the first Women in Music Producer of the Year Award was not lost on Rosalía, and she used her speech to both encourage more women to join the field but also to not sugarcoat the reality of life in the studio. “A producer’s job is a job in the shadow. … It’s not very fun – whoever tells you otherwise, they’re lying. It’s 15 hours a day, nonstop maybe, working on a sound. It comes from love, it comes from obsession maybe, and that’s why you stay in that small-ass room with no windows while everybody else around you is at home, just chilling, eating something nice, laughing, having sex, living life, just regular human cool sh–.”
Doechii: A Star Is Born
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC
If you went into Wednesday’s ceremony not knowing Doechii’s name, you definitely know it now. The Rising Star Award winner made the most of her time on the YouTube Theater stage, ripping through a frenetic mash-up of her songs “Persuasive” and “Crazy” and dancing with the energy of an arena or stadium show vs. to the 5,000-ish people lucky enough to be in the room. She performed so hard, in fact, that one of her shoes couldn’t survive the spectacle, so the first female TDE rapper had to limp over to the microphone to accept her award from her mother, Celesia Moore. “Girl, I done danced my shoe off!” she said with a laugh to kick off her speech.
A Bad Bunny Surprise, All for Ivy Queen
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/PMC
When an introduction started for Billboard’s top artist of 2022, the crowd started murmuring about who could be the hitting the stage, but once the intro mentioned Puerto Rico, everyone knew: Bad Bunny was surprising the crowd. And it was all for reggaeton pioneer Ivy Queen, whom Bunny presented the Icon Award to with an all-Spanish speech. He said he is the artist he is today because he has a part of Ivy Queen in his musical DNA. “She gave me the strength to be myself and to work double,” he said. “As a fan of reggaetón, I’ve waited a long time for this moment, and I think that 2023 is the time where more female reggaeton artists exist, and I’m sure it’s because of the root that Ivy planted a long time ago.”
Lainey Wilson Is All ‘Heart’
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC
Country star Lainey Wilson might have stripped down her top five Country Airplay hit “Heart Like a Truck” for the Women in Music stage, but she didn’t strip away any of her impressive vocals for the performance, even sustaining one big power note in the chorus. And she also didn’t strip away any of her signature style, wearing a wide-brimmed black hat and gold-lamé spandex bell bottoms. “This sh– is not for the faint of heart,” she said later in her speech. “All the women who are coming on this stage and in this room here tonight being honored can testify.”
The Sisterhood of Latto & Chloe Bailey
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC
We knew they were collaborators, teaming up on “For the Night” last year, but now we also know what good friends Latto and Chloe Bailey are. Bailey presented Latto with the Powerhouse Award – calling her “a force to be reckoned with,” “an icon for young women everywhere” and “the personification of a powerhouse” — and the rapper squeezed the singer’s hand during her whole speech.
Becky G Comes Home
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC
Becky G was born and raised in Inglewood, Calif., so she was extra emotional to receive the Impact Award in her hometown. She talked about how she made a promise to her family and fans in her breakthrough “Becky From the Block” song (her interpretation of Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block”). “The promise wasn’t that I wouldn’t leave where I came from, but that I would take where I’m from wherever I go,” she said, explaining that as a Mexican-American, a “200 percenter,” she often feels not American enough for the U.S. and not Hispanic enough for Mexico. “Where we come from, that will always be in our hearts, but where we go, that’s up to us.”
Lana Del Rey Is ‘Happy’
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC
Accepting the Visionary Award from last year’s Billboard Woman of the Year Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey said she didn’t “exactly have a long-term vision at all, but if you were curious, I am very, very happy.” That hasn’t always been the case, as the quintessential sadgirl singer described a much less friendly time in the music industry when she first started. “I feel like being happy is the ultimate goal, so I did it,” she concluded.
TWICE Pandemonium
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC
Of all the moments and all the performances, there was nothing more showstopping than the sheer volume and enthusiasm of the TWICE fans in the YouTube Theater. Host Quinta Brunson made a running joke out of it, including telling the audience she wanted to try something and then whispered “TWICE” into her microphone, causing the fans to scream on cue. The nine-piece girl group accepted the Breakthrough Award from certified ONCE Sabrina Carpenter, with Chaeyoung saying during their speech: “This title Breakthrough Artist proves that if you confidently push for your dream, people who support you will always be your team, you will break through.” According to the vocal crowd on Wednesday night, they’ve definitely broken through in a big way.
Kim Petras would do unholy things to work with Madonna. While walking the red carpet at Billboard‘s 2023 Women in Music event Wednesday (March 1), the night’s Chartbreaker honoree gushed about her love for the Queen of Pop — who introduced Petras and Sam Smith’s performance at the Grammys in February — and revealed her hopes to work together in the future.
“I’m such a huge fan,” Petras told Entertainment Tonight. “I don’t know how good of a friend I can be to her because I’m just like, Confessions [on a Dance Floor], Ray of Light changed my life!’ Every time I see her, I just talk about her music and how much it means to me, but it’s just been the most incredible thing for me to get respected by Madonna, and for her to even know anything about me.”
When asked if their newfound friendship but someday turn into a collab, the “Unholy” singer said, “I would die to.” “I would die to have Madonna on anything, or be on anything Madonna, so yeah, absolutely,” she added.
Later that evening, Petras performed her latest single, “Brrr,” for the Women in Music crowd at Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater before accepting the Chartbreaker Award, a moment that made her the first transgender woman to be honored at the annual event. “Growing up, I would question what rooms I would be put into and what boxes I would be put into — and I’m grateful it’s this one,” she said during her acceptance speech.
In January, the German dance-pop star became the first transgender artist to win a major category Grammy award when “Unholy,” her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 duet with Sam Smith, took home best pop duo-group performance. While accepting the Grammy, Petras gushed, “I don’t think I could be here without Madonna.”
Later that night, the “Material Girl” singer herself introduced Petras and Smith before their performance of “Unholy.” “So now, speaking of controversy, it gives me great pleasure to introduce two incredibly talented artists who have risen above the noise, the doubt, the critics into something beautifully unholy,” Madonna said. “Here are two Grammy award winners, Sam Smith and Kim Petras.”
Billboard Women in Music honored executives, artists and power players in the music industry on Wednesday night (March 1) at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. In addition to Woman of the Year SZA and Executive of the Year Sylvia Rhone, Lana Del Rey was feted with the Visionary Award — which was presented to her by 2022’s Billboard Woman of the Year Olivia Rodrigo.
Here’s Del Rey’s full acceptance speech.
“We made it. Well, I’m not much of speech person either. Olivia Rodrigo – I really don’t deserve her giving me this wonderful award. She’s so endlessly glamorous and talented I cannot tell you how much it means that someone who wrote ‘Drivers License’ is standing next to me. Thank you, John Janick [CEO, Interscope] for giving me the friendship of Olivia and also Billie [Eilish] and all the wonderful artists on the label. Thank you Carole Kinzel for being here with me and my besties Jen Stith and Alex Kaye, who choreographs my show.
“And, okay, deep breath. I don’t see SZA, but I want to say, SZA, from the minute I heard you I knew I wanted to know you. Congratulations. Well, well deserved on being Woman of the Year. To Rose, staggeringly amazing. Kim, congratulations. I’m so glad I got the meet the vloggers who got me through COVID – Remi Ashten, Ali and Alicia Marie.
“I’m gonna get close to the mic because I’m really, really quiet. I think the word ‘visionary’ could have been exchanged with any word when you’re up here. But if you were wondering, for my fans, I don’t exactly have a long-term vision, at all. But if you were curious, I am very, very happy to be a female singer, that is a wonderful feat.
“When I released my first album 14 years ago, the waters were not quite as warm. So I’m really happy for everyone who feels like it’s a wonderful time in the culture to be themselves and to express themselves. It didn’t feel that way in 2008 and I’m so grateful to be in the best company I’ve ever been in. Thank you. I feel like being happy is the ultimate. So I did it. Thank you, Billboard.”
Lana Del Rey’s next album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, comes out March 24.
Lana Del Rey was honored with the Visionary Award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (March 1). And last year’s Woman of the Year, Olivia Rodrigo, stopped by to introduce the trailblazing singer-songwriter.
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Rodrigo, a chart-topping, award-winning superstar is just 20 but she’s already packed in more highlights than many would achieve in a full life. But tonight, it was all about Del Rey and the many and varied gifts she’s shared with her fans.
“Lana has raised an entire generation of music lovers and songwriters like me,” Rodrigo enthused, “and taught them that there’s beauty in their vulnerability and power in their melancholy.”
Like many of us, it was 2012’s “Video Games” that hooked-in Rodrigo. “I still consider that song to be probably the best love song of all time,” she explained. “She captures sadness, anger and sensuality in a way only the greatest of songwriters ever could.”
The greatness doesn’t end with those “perfectly written albums, life-changing poetry and heavenly voice,” said Rodrigo, praising the living legend’s “unwavering authenticity.”
Billboard’s Visionary Award recipient, she continued, “has forged her own path, her entire career constantly raising the bar for herself and creating art that pushes boundaries and changes lives.”
Rodrigo, a three-time Grammy Award winner, is one of those fans who’s life is changed by Del Rey, for the better.
Read Olivia Rodrigo’s induction speech in full below.
Hey guys, I am so grateful to be here tonight celebrating so many incredible women. And I’m beyond honored to present the visionary award to someone who couldn’t be more deserving of it if they tried, Miss Lana Del Rey.
Lana’s career has spawned 15 Hot 100 hits and eight consecutive top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. She’s brought equal passion to poetry, photography and film, including collaborations with soundtracks like “Big Eyes” and “The Great Gatsby.”
More important than her lost list of accolades though, is the unique way she impacts everyone who encounters her in her music. Lana has raised an entire generation of music lovers and songwriters like me, and taught them that there’s beauty in their vulnerability and power in their melancholy.
The first song that I ever heard of Lana’s was “Video Games.” I still consider that song to be probably the best love song of all time. She captures sadness, anger and sensuality in a way only the greatest of songwriters ever could.
What I admire most about Lana though, even more than her perfectly written albums, life-changing poetry and heavenly voice is her unwavering authenticity.
Lana has forged her own path, her entire career constantly raising the bar for herself and creating art that pushes boundaries and changes lives.
She never sacrificed her unique voice and perspective on a world and an industry that constantly tries to put people in a box. And if that doesn’t make you a visionary, I truly don’t know what does.
She’s also just the coolest, kindest, nicest girl to ever exist, and Lana…I love you.
SZA took the stage at YouTube Theater on Wednesday (March 1), where she was being honored as the Woman of the Year at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
After an in-person introduction from Coi Leray and a partially sung message from Lizzo via video, the SOS auteur – who has topped the Billboard 200 for 10 weeks and counting – took the stage.
Here’s her full speech.
“I’m taped in here for high hell, y’all,” she said of her outfit. “I just want to thank God and my parents are here, my mom and my dad and right here, and my whole team [at TDE], Punch [Terrence Henderson] and MeLisa [Heath] and Top [Anthony Tiffith] and Amber, who is my best friend, we were roommates in college, and now she just makes sure I don’t fall apart every single day. To RCA, just everybody.
“I don’t know. A couple days ago MeLisa was like – I was about to go on stage, I’m on tour right now, today is my day off – she was like, ‘You should take time to write your speech.’ And then it’s like, ’10 seconds to stage’ and it’s like, ‘OK.’
“I didn’t write anything but that’s also who I am. I’m a very off the dome person. What I wanted to say is that there’s so many women in this room right now that I respect so deeply. This could have been any of us in this room.
“Whether it’s Lana Del Rey or Olivia Rodrigo or Chloe or Doechii who is a f–king star or Latto, or even Coi, my very own Jersey baby. I think sometimes there’s a misconception where everybody always feels like that girl, like, oh, I know I’m that b—-h and I have a lot of confidence. It’s OK to not be that person all the time. I used to feel like I didn’t belong because I don’t always feel like that. But I realized that the key is to stay open and available for whatever the universe or God wants to do with your life. Even when you don’t know who you are or you may not see, I don’t know why telling these on Billboard, I’m grateful — I love you too [aside to an audience member].
“But I really just want my life to be more than music, to be more than just an artist. I want to serve others, I want to serve people I want to be open and available to whatever God wants from me and saying yes to everything that’s scary to everything that feels like it’s not for you or where you don’t belong. It’s really the only way we walk through those doors. I encourage everybody to continue to be inspired and just stay available. You don’t have to be confident or even know that you are the one, or anything like that, you just have to say yes to the possibility. I’m grateful and thank you all for saying yes to me and I hope everybody has a blessed night. Thank you very much.”