What does one get the global pop superstar who has everything for their birthday? In this Taylor Swift-specific gift guide, there are 10 items. All of them are Billboard Music Awards.
Swift became the overall most-decorated artist in the awards’ history Thursday night, the eve of her 35th birthday, when she brought her overall tally of wins up to 49 overall, nabbing 10 awards from this year’s 17 nominations. Going into the night, she had been tied with Drake at 39 wins apiece. Drake ended Thursday evening with 42 overall Billboard Music Awards. Swift won the evening’s biggest award, among her trophy haul, and was named the year’s top artist. This is her fourth time winning Top Artist—yet another record in the show’s history.
The singer, who is only days removed from the finale of her grueling, also record-breaking, worldwide Eras Tour, accepted the honors via video.
"This is like the nicest early birthday present you could have given me so thank you very much," she said, kissing one of the ceremony’s golden microphone trophies. The Billboard awards are decided by streaming, sales, and play data, which Swift credited to her loyal fans, the Swifties. “Thank you to the fans, because Billboard is counting your stuff. They're counting what you're listening to, the albums that you're passionate about. So I count these as fan voted awards, because you guys are the ones who care about our albums and come see us in concert.”
Before the show aired, Swift spent Thursday giving back. The singer was spotted visiting kids at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, where her boyfriend Travis Kelce lives. She reportedly made stops in the hospital’s hematology and oncology wards, and spent at least an hour with the children.
A woman named Anita Belt posted photos of Swift hanging out with her son Rylie, a patient at the hospital, on Facebook.
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“Children's Mercy Hospital does their best to nurse seriously ill children, comfort family, and bring a little joy when they can,” Belt wrote alongside several photos of Swift, dressed in a matching Miu Miu plaid mini skirt and top set, perched on Rylie’s bed chatting with him. “Today did not disappoint! Thank you Taylor Swift for bringing some joy to Rylie today!!"
One of the photos shows that Swift gifted Rylie a signed copy of her recent Eras Tour book, including a sweet note.
Melissa Nuzum, mother of a patient named Baylee who received a visit from the star, gushed to a local news station about the day.
“Baylee was chosen since she requests Taylor songs during her uncomfortable procedures,” Nuzum said. “Ya’ll she is amazing! On top of her sheer beauty she was just as kind and personable and down to earth.”
According to People, another young patient slyly told Swift, “I like Travis now,” to which Swift replied, “Yes, me too.”
She then asked if he was the patient’s favorite Kansas City Chiefs player and got a yes, in addition to quarterback and known pal to both Swift and Kelce, Patrick Mahomes.
“Good,” Swift said. “These are good answers. You are acing this.”
In photos shared to social media, Swift can be seen laughing in response to a patient showing off a Chiefs-themed blanket with a square reading “Go Taylor’s Boyfriend.”
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Kelce, sources confirmed to Vanity Fair, wasn't able to join Swift on the hospital visit because he was at practice.
And though her tour is over, Swift just can’t help but perform: In a video shared to social media, she joined two young fans in filming a TikTok set to her own song “Bad Blood,” strutting for the camera.
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