Taylor Swift Accepts Prestigious Pinnacle Award at 2013 CMAs
Taylor Swift could be forgiven for thinking she had time-traveled to some point in the long-off future when she will be old and gray and get honored with a lifetime achievement award: At the tender age of 23, she was the recipient of the most prestigious -- and rare -- honor at the 47th annual CMA Awards tonight (Nov. 6).
A cadre of country music superstars -- including Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and George Strait -- took the event's Nashville, Tenn., stage to present Taylor with the previously announced Pinnacle Award, an honor that has only been given once before in the show's history (to Garth Brooks in 2005). It "recognizes artists who've made a significant impact on the industry, both nationally and internationally, based on their concerts and record sales at levels unique in country music."
The audience could see a split screen of Taylor as a video package detailed her amazing accomplishments and a whole host of famous faces fawned over her and her talent. Her reactions were priceless -- especially her astonishment over the kind words of Ethel Kennedy and her utter freakout when Mick Jagger spoke! Other stars saluting her included Justin Timberlake, Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres and Julia Roberts.
On a night when she already performed with some of her musical heroes, it was a lot to take in. But T. Swizzle was up to the task, if a little overwhelmed. (Her parents, however, were basket cases, as she pointed out.)
"My parents are not just crying, they're actually bawling at this point," she said as she accepted the award. She proceeded to shoutout the other stars who helped her achieve her success.
"I just know that it had to have taken a lot of people to make this decision to give this to me," she continued. "You're not only rewarding my hard work and exhaustion, you're rewarding the hard work and exhaustion of my family and my label and anyone who works with me. And, most of all, the fans who filled stadiums. I love you."
Taylor started the evening nominated for six CMAs. Prior to the telecast, Swift shared awards for Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year with Tim McGraw and Keith Urban for their collaboration 'Highway Don't Care.'