Photos: Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Ciara and More at Billboard Women in Music Awards

Billboard honored some of the heaviest hitters in American music today (December 11) when artists including Demi Lovato and Alicia Keys were honored at their 10th Annual Women In Music event in New York City.

Lady Gaga was honored as 2015 Woman of the Year. Her mother Cynthia Germanotta informed the audience of her daughter's humble but ambitious beginnings, saying "at the age of 6 she wrote her first song called 'Dollar Bills'." Gaga aimed to inspire in her own speech, but also acknowledged the reality of the particular difficulties female musicians face in achieving the respect they're earned through talent and hard work. ""It's like a f---in' boys club that we can't get into," she said.

Check out the gallery above for photos of the events honorees — Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Fifth Harmony, Kelsea Ballerini and more — and watch the show on December 18 at 8 p.m. on Lifetime.

Ellie Goulding, One Direction and More at the 2015 BBC Music Awards