Taylor Swift received an early birthday present on December 12, winning ten Billboard Music Awards for her work in 2024 – including Top Artist and Top Female Artist.

With the new trophies, she surpassed Drake to become the top Billboard Music Awards winner in history. She has received a total of 49 awards in her career. Drake, their closest competitor, has 42.

Fresh off her “Eras Tour” and looking to do something for herself — and to give back by visiting a children’s hospital in Kansas City with boyfriend Travis Kelce this week — Swift didn’t attend the BBMAs, which were taped anyway. She shared a pre-recorded message thanking Swifties for taking her music to the level it has achieved.

Swift said she counts the trophies “as fan-voted awards” because they are based on the music charts.

“It means a lot to me that you guys have embraced the things I’ve done and the fact that you care so much about my music,” The said Tortured Poets Department said the singer.

She also called it “the best early birthday present anyone could have given me,” as she turns 35 on December 13. “It’s exactly what I wanted.”

The BBMAs are certainly not the Grammys, which are coming up on February 2, 2025. The show was hosted by comedian and actress Michelle Buteau, but was fully scripted. The performances took place in various locations around the world, such as Coldplay in Australia, and were compiled. There was no red carpet.

However, there were still memorable performances. Linkin Park, back together after Chester Bennington’s death and featuring controversial new singer Emily Park, gave an energetic performance of “The Emptiness Machine” from their album From zero. Her fans felt it and sang along.

They also won top rock duo/group and top hard rock artist awards.

Coldplay performed their new hit “All My Love” from Down Under, where they are on their “Spheres World Tour”. Their fans also sang along and lights illuminated the arena as Chris Martin tapped the keys and sang the poignant lyrics. (The video for the song featuring Dick Van Dyke was released on December 13th.)

The group also gave a funny acceptance speech for Top Rock Touring Artist, in which Martin joked that they were the “most beautiful old man band in the world.”

Jelly roll seems to be everywhere right now – and we’re more than okay with that. At the Billboards, he performed his song “I Am Not Okay.” Beautifully broken and his lyrics clearly spoke to fans.

Shaboozey was also a highlight, singing his hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” on a lavish ballroom party set. The song and the fun he brought to the performance made for a napkin-waving good time.

Other notable moments: Beyoncé won her first-ever country music award, snagging the title of Top Country Female Artist.

Zach Bryan received five awards including Top Rock Artist, Top Country Touring Artist and Top Country Touring Album.

Morgan Wallen was also a winner, collecting four trophies including Top Male Artist and Top Country Artist. It was a better end to his day than the beginning. Before the taped awards show aired on Fox, he was sentenced to seven days in a DUI training center and two years of supervised probation for throwing a chair from the roof of a six-story bar in Nashville in April.