Taylor Swift’s mother honors singer with ACM Milestone Award
Luke Bryan won the fan-voted top prize of entertainer of the year at the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, which drew more than 70,000 fans to the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The home of the Dallas Cowboys was at near-capacity and broke the Guinness Book of World Records for most attendance at a live awards show - logging 70,252 guests.
Bryan and fellow country music star Blake Shelton hosted the awards, broadcast on CBS, for the third year running.
“They say everything is bigger in Texas,” Bryan told the crowd. “Tonight we are the most attended live award show of all time.”
Miranda Lambert, who led all nominees for the second consecutive year with eight nods, walked away with three awards, including Album of the Year for her work, “Platinum.”
“It’s good to be home,” said Lambert, a native Texan.
Taylor Swift has said that her mother was one of her biggest champions in her pursuit to become a country music artist.
So it was only fitting that Andrea Swift presented her daughter with one of the biggest honors of her career - the 50th Anniversary Milestone Award at the American Country Music Awards in Arlington, Texas on Sunday.
The 57-year-old gave an introduction of the superstar, saying, ‘Like many of you with children of your own, I am a very proud mom. So I would like to thank the ACMs for recognizing her in this way and the entire music community for taking such good care of her.’
Referring to her look-alike child as her ‘constant companion,’ the moment was all the more heartwarming following Taylor’s announcement on April 9 that her mother was diagnosed with cancer after she urged to to get screened.
Andrea recalled in her speech: ‘I’ve watched this milestone artist from the time she was a tangle-haired little girl growing up on our farm filled with creativity, until now preparing for her world tour. Her favourite thing is to write a song, tell a story and play a guitar or piano.’
‘There was the time she was 17, her dad and I strongly disapproved of a certain young man and rightfully so. She was mad, real mad, and she went to her room and closed the door. She came back about an hour later with a song called Love Story.
‘I witnessed a young girl with very few friends who has become a young woman with many. She’s learning to stand up for herself and the things she believes in.
‘Whether it’s being brave enough to explore her musical curiosity and having a voice against those who hate and giving of herself to those in need.’
During the speech Taylor looked on from the audience where she was seated next to her father, Scott Swift, 63, who kissed his daughter before she embraced her mother on the stage.
Speaking to the crowd, the Shake It Off singer referenced her transition from country to pop music.
‘Somebody once told me that you truly see who a person is when you tell them something they don’t want to hear,’ she said, adding, ‘You showed me who you are with the grace you accepted it, and I’ll never forget it.
‘So happy I learned how to write songs in a town called Nashville. I’m so unbelievably proud that I learned to treat people with kindness and respect from country music.’
The blonde beauty shared on her Tumblr page on April 9 that her mother was diagnosed with cancer after she persuaded her to get screened for potential health issues.
However she did not disclose the specific condition or treatment plan, citing that the family wants to keep it private.
Taylor shared with her fans on the social media website: ‘For Christmas this year, I asked my mom that one of her gifts to me be her going to the doctor to get screened for any health issues, just to ease some worries of mine.
‘She agreed, and went in to get checked. There were no red flags and she felt perfectly fine, but she did it just to get me and my brother off her case about it. The results came in, and I’m saddened to tell you that my mom has been diagnosed with cancer.
‘[Andrea] wanted you to know because your parents may be too busy juggling everything they’ve got going on to go to the doctor, and maybe you reminding them to go get checked for cancer could possibly lead to an early diagnosis and an easier battle… Or peace of mind in knowing that they’re healthy and there’s nothing to worry about.
‘She wanted you to know why she may not be at as many shows this tour. She’s got an important battle to fight.’
Taylor, who was raised on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania by her homemaker mother and Merrill Lynch financial adviser father, relocated to Nashville when she was aged 14 after convincing her family to help her launch a country music career. Her brother Austin was then aged 12.
‘My parents took all the pressure off by saying, “We’re just moving because we love the area, so don’t worry.”
‘They knew nothing about the industry and had no involvement in entertainment, but I was obsessed with it and so they did their research and read up about it to help me in every way they could. They’re amazing people.’
The Grammy winner was among several boldface names who received the same award, including Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn.
The award is given to the seven biggest winners in the show’s 50 years.
Performances at the award show paid a nod to her genre-crossing venture with Nick Jonas collaborating with Dan + Shay, and Christina Aguilera with Rascal Flatts.
Country crooners Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn and Little Big Town also rocked the house. Blake Shelton and hunky singer Luke Bryan served as hosts for the third consecutive year.
