On Friday December 2nd, Billboards held their 7th annual Billboard Women in Music event at Capitale in New York. Stars Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj were both honored in the event with Taylor Swift awarded “Woman of the Year” and Nicki Minaj awarded “Rising Star”.
“I would go through every single page and every single chart and just daydream about what it would be like to see my name in there someday,” Taylor Swift said during her speech as Woman of the Year. “And today I walked in to flashing camera bulbs and all these important people in music, and I thought, ‘I guess that’s what it looks like.’”
Swift’s third CD, “Speak Now” has sold over 3.7 million copies, and features hits “Mine” and “Mean”. And while the Swift’s “Speak Now” album wasn’t an overall best album in the Grammy nominations, Swift was excited that she received nomations for “best country album” and two for her song “Mean”.
”That song is so personal, and I’m so glad that the Grammys recognized it,” she said on the red carpet ahead of the event. “I’ve never felt entitled to play another sold-out show or win another award. So just the fact that this keeps happening, I’m thankful for that,” she said.
Minaj during a Q&A told ABC News’ Robin Roberts, “I’ve had a lot of doors closed in my face,” she said. “I’m no different than any struggling artist that just tried one last time.” Nicki received the “Rising Star” honor, and her debut CD, ”Pink Friday,” has sold more than 1.6 million copies in the United States.
