The wildest and most heartwarming moments from Billboard Women in Music

The 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards took over Hollywood on Wednesday evening, and from the purple carpet to a ceremony presided over by host Keke Palmer, one factor was clear: This wasn’t only a celebration. It felt like a second.

The visitor checklist alone learn like a snapshot of the place music is true now — and the place it is headed: Teyana Taylor. Zara Larsson. And the Oscar-winning KPop Demon Hunters trio — Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — bringing international star energy.

Yahoo was on the carpet speaking to greater than 15 artists spanning totally different genres — pop, nation, hip-hop — and the message was surprisingly unified: There’s by no means been a extra expansive (or thrilling) time to be a girl in music. “Everybody here’s an inspiration to me,” Mariah the Scientist, who took house the Rising Star award, instructed us, summing up the tone of the night in a single sentence.

That next-gen vitality was all over the place, particularly in artists like Ella Langley. Fresh off a buzzy Stagecoach setthe “Choosin’ Texas” breakout just isn’t solely making noise in nation, she’s additionally making historical past, just lately breaking a decade-old document held by Taylor Swift.

“It means that my head’s spinning around like an owl,” Langley joked on the carpet after we requested her in regards to the milestone second. “You ever seen that? It’s pretty scary. It’s nuts. I’m just excited.”

Inside, the vitality solely ramped up, with high-gloss vogue, emotional speeches and performances that felt much less like a victory lap and extra like a handoff from one technology of powerhouses to the subsequent.

Below, check out the perfect moments of the evening, from standout fashion to the quotes and superlatives that outlined it.

The Swedish pop star introduced the vitality early with a high-octane efficiency of “Midnight Sun,” which had Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami dancing and singing from their seats. Larsson used her Breakthrough Artist to softly (however firmly) reframe the narrative. Yes, she’s having a second. No, she’s not new.

“There are so many years of hard work behind an overnight success,” Larsson instructed the group, reflecting on what she described as a long-awaited profession renaissance.

In her speech, she bought much more candid in regards to the shift that bought her right here: letting go of chasing making an attempt to be “the best” and as a substitute changing into “the most me.” The outcome, she steered, is not a sudden glow-up — it is alignment. And perhaps that is the true breakthrough.

Best from-the-heart second: Ella Langley

Introduced by fellow nation star Lainey Wilson, who praised her pal as “still Ella,” regardless of all of the latest success, Langley delivered one of many evening’s realt moments. She first took the stage for a stripped-down efficiency of her record-breaking No. 1 hit “Choosin’ Texas,” setting the tone for what adopted.

Then got here the speech, and at an occasion the place teleprompter hiccups had been already in play, Langley ditched it altogether.

“I really tried to write a speech for a long time, and then I procrastinated until right now,” she laughed, earlier than shouting out her largely feminine group.

What adopted was fully off the cuff. “To me, ‘powerhouse’ is strength. It’s resilience. It’s coming back when you don’t necessarily want to, but you feel like, I’m going to fight for this“,” she said. “This is one thing I’ve wished to do my entire total life. …There wasn’t a day I wished to be anything.”

Most well worth the wait: Teyana Taylor

Fashionably late and instantly forgiven, Taylor was the final to hit the carpet. That lower into her interview time, however she made up for it in one of the best ways potential: stopping to hug each particular person in her path on the best way inside.

Introduced by legend Dionne Warwick — who earned one of many evening’s few standing ovations — Taylor was honored as Billboard’s Women in Music Visionary, a title that matches her multi-hyphenate profession to a tee After a stripped-down efficiency of “Bed of Roses,” she took the stage and thanked her mom.

And regardless of incomes essential acclaim (and an Oscar nomination) for her performing work, Taylor made one factor crystal clear: “Music is my first love.”

Most daring look: Tyla

Tyla did not simply put on a glance — she owned it. The singer stepped out in a barely there, feathered ensemble that felt equal elements excessive vogue and fearless, with a dramatic open again and textured element that moved along with her each step. It was the type of outfit that requires whole confidence, and she delivered, turning the carpet onto her runway with out lacking a beat. We had been all speaking about it on the carpet.

Most electrical efficiency: Thalía

When you are receiving the Icon award, expectations are excessive — Thalía lived as much as them. The trailblazing Mexican singer-actor introduced the room to life with a high-energy medley of “Piel Morena” and “Amor a la Mexicana,” full with a mariachi band that had the viewers on their ft.

For Thalía, the efficiency was a full-circle second. “I want to dedicate this award to the little girl who I once was,” she instructed the group. “To every single kid who dares to dream big: Don’t stop.”

Most ‘wait… are you going to run LA?’ vitality: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt

While Spencer Pratt continues to roll out marketing campaign movies in his very actual (and very on-line) bid to change into mayor of Los Angeles, he took a uncommon step again on Wednesday, avoiding the purple carpet and letting his spouse shine.

And she had lots to have a good time. More than a decade after its launch, her 2010 album Superficial emerged to No. 1 on the iTunes all-genre charts final yr — a stunning second act that got here simply days after the couple misplaced their house in the Palisades hearth.

Montag instructed Yahoo that whereas the previous yr has been extremely tough, he has additionally reignited his ardour for music.

“This has been the best and the hardest year of my life. … I think we’re getting through a lot of the hardships and starting to focus more on the good — what’s next, what I want to do with my life,” she stated, noting a brand new album is on the best way this summer season. “Life is short. … I just want to work hard, balance being a mom … and now a supportive wife.”

That “supportive wife” mode can also be a nod to the marketing campaign path — a job that, if issues hold trending this manner, would possibly simply include a title improve.

Most ‘nonetheless Golden’ vitality: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami

Less than two months after their awards season victory lap, the trio reunited onstage and closed out the evening in a greater method. Fresh off being named Women of the Year, they handled the group on the Palladium to a efficiency of their hit “Golden,” bringing the room to an emotional, energetic end.

But it was their message that lingered. “Music doesn’t see race or gender; it only asks for the truth,” Ejae instructed the group. “When I brought my full truth into it — my voice, my Korean-ness, my women-ness — everything began to shift.” She added, “As a woman, our power has never been in fitting in.”

Most angelic voice: Laufey

If anybody in the room wasn’t already conversant in Laufey, they had been inside seconds. The pop-jazz artist took the stage to carry out “Silver Lining,” and the response was fast. “Oh my God,” one lady subsequent to me whispered the second she opened her mouth, a sense that shortly unfold throughout the room.

Honored because the night’s Innovator, Laufey used her speech to zoom out, shifting the main focus from herself to the ladies round her. “It feels funny to accept an award as an innovator, because I really do feel like every woman in this industry is an innovator,” she stated. “We’re all here today not only because we pushed for change but because we made room for each other.”

Most character: Mariah the Scientist

Mariah the Scientist introduced the emotion to the stage with a efficiency of “Rainy Days,” displaying precisely why she’s one of many style’s most compelling voices proper now.

Earlier on the carpet, she stored issues simply as actual. Asked which lady in music she’d name for recommendation, Mariah instantly clarified: “Business advice or relationship advice?” Her solutions had been simply as particular, tapping Latto and Kali Uchis for enterprise and including Ciara into the combination for issues of the guts.

Best humble bra: Diane Warren

The songwriting legend is a fixture on nearly each main carpet — from the Oscars (the place she’s racked up 17 nominations) to the Grammys and past — so it felt truthful to ask which of them she truly enjoys the most. Her reply? Instantly iconic.

“I prefer the movies because that means I’m nominated for an Oscar,” she stated, earlier than including with amusing, “I’m keeping that shit real.”

Most ubiquitous plus-one: mothers

Call it a theme of the evening: Moms had been all over the place, both bodily or in spirit. Laufey, Zara Larsson and numerous others shouted out their moms whereas accepting awards, turning the night right into a heartfelt (and very public) thank-you.

Teyana Taylor took it a step additional, bringing her dad and mom alongside — and giving the viewers one of many evening’s funniest moments. After a teleprompter mishap, Taylor that exposed her mother had some ideas backstage. “It was so dope watching you curse them out back there,” she joked, incomes massive laughs from the group.