Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Billboard MagazineAlessia Cara, Kesha, Meghan Trainor, Halsey, Madonna and more were honored at Billboard’s annual Women in Music Gala Friday in New York City.
Alessia, who received the Rule Breaker award, said it was “so, so crazy” to be honored with so many other women she admires. She also appreciates that there’s an event that celebrates women specifically.
“I think it’s really nice to just shed light on…women being in power for once,” she told ABC Radio. “And showing…that we can do things that anybody else can. It’s important to find our strength through our creativity and what we do best.”
Kesha was given the Trailblazer award, and her collaborator, “11 Blocks” singer Wrabel [RAY-bell] told ABC Radio how important the honor is, coming at the end of a year in which Kesha made headlines by suing her producer, who she claims abused her.
Calling the award “such a statement,” Wrabel said Kesha’s “vulnerability and her honesty” is “so powerful.”
Madonna was named Woman of the Year and her friend of 30 years, actress Debi Mazur, explained why the Queen of Pop deserves the honor.
“We need to come together as women and protect our rights, [and] she’s been advocating since the beginning of her career for women,” Mazur said, adding, “She’s smart, she’s sophisticated, she’s really a force of nature.”
Shania Twain was given the Icon Award, and said the “highlight of her career” has been hearing from “all these young artists who were children when I was really climbing…who looked up to me.”
Due to illness, Meghan Trainor couldn’t be there to accept her Chart Topper award, but her friends in Fifth Harmony paid tribute to her with a performance of her hit “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.”
The ceremony will air on Lifetime December 12.
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