Legendary artists — old, new and in between — overflowed the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 11th-annual iHeartRadio Music Awards Monday. Female artists were the standout stars of the show, making an impact on the carpet and in multiple award categories, securing some of the night’s most significant victories.
Rapper Ludacris led as a first-time host of the award show well-known for its unorthodox way of crowning winners. For many categories such as Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite Tour Photographer and more, fans can cast votes in favor of their beloved artists. Not only are the awards democracy-based, they include fun, hyper-specific categories that showcase broader topics and allow for less-recognized folks to also take home bulky, heart-shaped trophies for their shelves.
The yellow carpet — yes, it was yellow — paved the way for the evening’s momentous fashion looks.
After dropping one of the most awaited country albums of the year, Beyoncé stepped out in true Cowboy Carter attire and struck her iconic, fierce poses with ease. From head to toe, the queen was dripped in archived Versace and striking gold detailing that tapered the sides of her legs. The look’s undeniable highlight was the flattering skin-tight leather that beautifully embraced her figure.
Of course, she finished off the iconic look with her new staple piece: a cowgirl hat. Beyoncé is shamelessly stuck in her Cowboy Carter era and we are all here for it.
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The theme of the night had to have been Western cowgirl, as the look surely did not die with Queen Bey. Lainey Wilson, an up-and-coming country artist and actress, followed suit decked in a feathery leather getup that broadcast her country pride. Copper-colored feathers rested gracefully on her shoulders and matched perfectly with the hat on her head.
Bell bottoms — leather ones in particular — might be making a comeback, or perhaps this is one of those things only Wilson can pull off.
The iHeartRadio fashion encompassed more than cowgirl boots and leather, however. SZA effortlessly strutted the floor with a plunging shirt dress that blended in with the yellow carpet. The casual dress had a deep V-cut and was accompanied by long necklaces that decorated her chest. While the artist’s face card never declines, some of her red carpet looks can be questionable, such as this one.
While fashion may not be her forté, music certainly is. The SOS singer brought home numerous awards highlighting her success over the past year. Like SZA, many fan-favorite artists traveled home with a handful of silver trophies. Taylor Swift led with a total of six awards, all of which she won without being in attendance. Her fans and iHeartRadio ultimately named her Artist of the Year while also spotlighting her famous Eras Tour with a Tour of the Year award.
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Outside of the traditional awards, two separate prestigious honors — the Icon Award and the Innovator Award — were given to two notable women, Cher and Beyoncé, respectively. Cher, dressed in vintage Chrome Hearts pants, accepted her award after calling out the haters during her speech.
“There are people who say, ‘Doesn’t that bitch have more than one pair of pants?’” Cher said. “I’ve had these pants for 40 years. I thought we should come here and accept this award together.”
I mean, how iconic can she be?
Miss Cowboy Carter’s Innovator Award recognized her work as a pioneer in the music industry. The humility trickled off the stage and through the TV, as Beyoncé took the time during her speech to thank many Black artists — Prince, Tracy Chapman, Rosetta Tharpe, André 3000 and more — who paved the way for innovation and used their powerful voices to uplift the dreams of others.
The theater gleamed with pure talent, notable looks and performances — and most importantly, voting of fans who listen to endless music on the radio day in and day out.
