She did it with a broken heart.
After making history with her fourth Album of the Year win at the 2024 Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift can now record her 30th VMA win with the Video of the Year award for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone – making her the show’s most awarded musician of all time.
Swift, 34, has now tied Beyoncé for the most VMA wins. She used the monumental moment to send a loving shout-out to her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, and urge her fans to vote in the upcoming presidential election after endorsing Kamala Harris.
About “Fortnight,” Swift said in her acceptance speech: “That video was fun to make. And I’ll always remember that when I finished a take and said cut and we were done with that take, I would always hear someone cheering ‘Woo!’ from the studio where we were shooting it.”
“And that one person was my friend… Travis. Everything that man touches turns into happiness and fun,” she said. “So I want to thank him for bringing that to our shoot. Because I’ll never forget that.”
Of course, Swift thanked her fans and MTV while mentioning the Eras tour, but she ended her speech with perhaps the most powerful statement of the night.
“And if you are over 18, please register for another very important election coming up soon – the presidential election,” she said.
On Tuesday night, Swift finally announced her support for the 2024 presidential election after the debate between Donald Trump and Harris. She also addressed the dangers of artificial intelligence after fake images showed her supporting Trump.
Swift announced that she had been following the debate and urged others to do their own research. She wrote: “I recently became aware that a report was posted on his website in which ‘I’ falsely endorsed Donald Trump’s candidacy for president. This really heightened my fears about AI and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It made me realize that as a voter, I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election.”
She announced that she would cast her vote for Harris and Tim Walz and gave the reasons for her decision.
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes that I believe need a fighter to represent them. I think she is a calm, gifted leader and believe we can accomplish so much more in this country when we are led by calm, not chaos. I was so encouraged and impressed by her choice of her running mate @timwalz, who has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s rights to their own bodies for decades,” she shared.
This VMA victory wasn’t the only one Swift won at the show.
She also won Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration for “Fortnight” with Post Malone, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Editing and Song of the Summer — and had several applause-worthy outfit changes.
Kelce had previously raved about her recognition at the VMAs in the latest podcast episode “New Heights With Jason and Travis Kelce.”
“Hopefully Taylor can take some of those, she’s nominated for about ten of those things tonight. Hopefully she can take some moon men. Those are always one of the cooler trophies. The space guys,” he said.
Describing the award to his brother Jason, 36, 34-year-old Travis added: “I think it’s the big silver moon type with the American flag.”
“Yeah, we landed on the moon!” Jason replied. “It’s the MTV flag, but that’s a really cool award. Let’s go, Tay, come on, Tay!”
“Stay tuned,” Travis added. “But I wish everyone the best.”
Last year, Swift received the most nominations for the awards show. She was the leading actress with eight nominations and was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Editing and Best Cinematography.
Swift made her VMA debut in 2008 when she was nominated for Best New Artist.
Although she lost to Tokio Hotel, she won Best Female Video in 2009 for “You Belong With Me”, Best Video of the Year in 2015 for “Bad Blood” and Best Song of the Year in 2023 for “Antihero”.
In 2009, Swift’s victory was marred when Kanye Swift interrupted her acceptance speech.
“Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you. I’ll let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos ever!” he said in that infamous moment. After the interruption, Swift sang “You Belong With Me” in front of Radio City Music Hall.
Later during the awards ceremony, Beyoncé asked Swift to give her speech when the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer won Video of the Year for “Single Ladies.”
“I want to give Taylor her moment,” Beyoncé told the crowd at the time.
Although she did not perform at Sunday’s show, Swift has rocked the VMAs stage in the past.
Since her VMA debut with “You Belong with Me” in 2009, Swift performed a mashup of “The Night Is Still Young” and “Bad Blood” with rapper Nicki Minaj in 2015.
Swift also sang “Shake It Off” in 2014.
When her backup dancers tried to make her jump off a second-story platform, Swift said, “I don’t care if it’s the VMAs, I’m not jumping off there,” according to USA Today. “People get bitten by snakes; it’s dangerous.”
In 2017, Swift also premiered her Easter egg-filled music video “Look What You Made Me Do.” In 2022, she celebrated 13 years since her first win by announcing the release of her 10th studio album, “Midnights.”
