iHeartRadio Music Awards 2024 winners: Taylor Swift thanks fans for Artist of the Year victory in video message after SKIPPING ceremony while Beyonce turns up in cowgirl glam to accept Innovator honors

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, two of music's top stars, were among the big winners at Monday's 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards stemming from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

Swift sent in a clip to Monday's 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards to accept the honors for Artist of the Year, while Beyoncé was at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles to accept the honors for 2024 iHeart Radio Innovator on Monday.

Swift, 34, was nominated against Miley Cyrus, Drake, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, Shakira, SZA and Usher for the honors.

'I want to say thank you so much to anyone who voted for this award,' the singer-songwriter said in her speech, as she was seated in a room. 'iHeart, you have just been so incredibly supportive over the course of my entire career.'

The Grammy-winner was coming off a busy weekend, as she and boyfriend Travis Kelce spent Easter Sunday in Pennsylvania before returning to Southern California Monday afternoon, arriving in Burbank at 1:30 p.m PT.

Swift said that the past year 'has been pretty spectacular' and she's 'so grateful for that.' 

The singer added, 'To the fans, it's completely up to you to choose how you spend your time, what concerts you want go to, what music you want to make the soundtrack to your life. 

'To anyone who has included me in those choices, I'm so, so, so thankful for that.' 

Swift said that she has 'many exciting things ahead, as she continued on with The Eras Tour and has a new studio album called The Tortured Poets Department due out April 19.

'I'm so proud of it,' Swift said. 'I cannot wait to share it with you. Thank you for voting for me for Artist of the Year. I can't wait to keep having fun with you guys. We have a lot of exciting things coming up. Thank you so much.'

Beyoncé was presented with the honors by musical icon Stevie Wonder, 73, as she noted, 'I'm honored to receive this recognition from you, Stevie Wonder - whenever anyone asks me if there's anything I can listen to for the rest of my life, it's always you - thank you, God bless you.

Beyoncé opened up on the methods of being an innovator in her speech.

'Call me an innovator and I'm grateful,' she said. 'Innovation starts with a dream. Then you have to execute that dream. That road can be very bumpy. Being even innovator is seeing what everyone believes is impossible.

'It means being criticized often, which often will test your mental strength.'

She added that 'being an innovator is leaning on faith and trusting God will catch you and guide you,' and that she hopes people 'are more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art with no preconceived notions.'

The Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) artist dedicated the iHeart honors 'to all the innovators who have dedicated their lives and their art to creating shifts.'

She cited Wonder, as well as late performers such as Prince, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe as inspirational artists 'who defied any label placed upon them,' adding, 'Thank you for executing your dream so we could all follow.

Beyoncé wrapped up her speech in thanking her team at her company Parkwood Entertainment, her husband Jay-Z, 54, and their 'three beautiful children' - Blue Ivy, 12, and Sir and Rumi, six - who she said are her 'inspiration' and 'biggest blessing.'

Ice Spice took home the honors for Best New Hip-Hop Artist to kick off Monday's 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

'Thank you guys so much - this is such an honor,' the New York City native, 24, said in her acceptance speech at the ceremony.

The musical artist, whose full name is Isis Naija Gaston, continued, 'I usually don't know what to say up here - today feels different.

The Barbie World rapper paid tribute to her supporters in accepting the honors: 'I just want to tell all my fans, I love you so, so much - you guys are the best fanbase ever. Thank you for real. Without you guys, I wouldn't have made it this far.

'I just want to let all the young girls know and boys, too, whoever you are, just keep chasing your dreams ... keep doing you. Thank you, iHeart.'

SZA had a big showing Monday as she prevailed in the categories for Song of the Year for Kill Bill, R&B Artist of the Year; R&B Song of the Year for Snooze and R&B Album of the Year for SOS.

In her first speech, the feted artist, 34, said she was 'really honored' to win the R&B honors, as she didn't consider herself 'a radio artist.'

She said she was 'especially honored to have gotten here with' music exec Terrence 'Punch' Henderson and his team, as they have been working with one another for 12 years.

'I'm grateful that we ... didn't succumb to the pressure of needing to have the perfect writer, the perfect producer - we just did us - that's a blessing,' she said.

The singer, whose full name is Solána Imani Rowe, said she was 'grateful' for her fans and good fortune.

After winning Song of the Year, SZA referenced fellow artist Lizzo and her creative accolades in recent years.

'This is so crazy - I was at Lizzo's house and I saw the awards,' she said. 'I have my own ... genuinely, I'm so grateful. God bless everybody. Have a good evening.'

The achievements of the biggest names in music will once again be recognized at this year's 11th annual iHeartRadio Awards. 

The awards show, held at the Dolby Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Monday evening, honors the artists and songs who were most played on iHeartRadio stations and the app.

Ludacris will be hosting the celeb-packed affair, and Beyonce and Cher will be receiving awards recognizing their contributions to music. The Queen Bey will be awarded the iHeartRadio Innovator Award while Cher will receive the Icon Award.

On top of seeing their favorite artists win awards, viewers will also be treated to an array of performances by the likes of Justin Timberlake, Tate McRae, Green Day, Jelly Roll, and TLC. 

The ceremony can be watched on FOX and heard via various iHeartRadio stations and on the iHeartRadio app. 

Speaking with People about the awards show, Ludacris raved:  'When it comes to iHeart, it's all about energy. It's all about [viewers] seeing their favorite artists. It's about blowing the roof off of this venue, man,' he said. 'I think that it's just going to be fun because you have a great variety of people in here as well, so it should be good. And it's right after Easter, so come on, man.'

He explained he was looking forward to the 'variety' the show had to offer.

'I love that you got Jelly Roll on here, you got Lainey Wilson, you got Justin Timberlake. I'm not only hosting, but humbly speaking, I'm also performing. I just want to be a part of greatness. It's so much talent, so much energy and so much stuff to look forward to — and some surprises as well.'

Nominations for the ceremony were announced back in January, with Taylor Swift, Jelly Roll, 21 Savage, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo leading the nominations.

Artists receiving multiple nominations include, 21 Savage, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Blink-182, Carin León, David Kushner, Doechii, Doja Cat, Drake, Dua Lipa, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Grupo Frontera, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll.

Also on the list is Jung Kook, Karol G, Lil Durk, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Metro Boomin, Miley Cyrus, Morgan Wallen, Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, Paramore, Peso Pluma, Rema, Selena Gomez, Shakira, SZA, The Weeknd, Tyla, Usher and Yng Lvcas.

Song of the Year went to: 'Calm Down' - Rema and Selena Gomez; 'Creepin'' - Metro Boomin with The Weeknd and 21 Savage; 'Cruel Summer' - Taylor Swift; 'Dance The Night' - Dua Lipa; 'Fast Car' - Luke Combs; 'Flowers'- Miley Cyrus; 'Kill Bill' - SZA; 'Last Night'- Morgan Wallen; 'Paint The Town Red' - Doja Cat; and 'vampire' - Olivia Rodrigo.

Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer for iHeartMedia, said at the time: 'Our iHeartRadio Music Awards are special because they're truly reflective of what listeners love. 

'We're excited to share the journey on how they became the biggest songs and celebrate these amazing artists with music fans across the nation together LIVE from Los Angeles.'

Fans will also be given the chance to decide winners in a number of new and established categories including Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, and more. 

The ceremony will also provide a sneak peek of 2024's upcoming hits, along with surprise guests, collaborations, and the stories of the artists who reached number one. 

Since the iHeartRadio Music Awards' inception in 2013, the show has included live performances and appearances by superstar artists such as Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, and many others.

'The iHeartRadio Music Awards is a night where we celebrate the biggest artists and songs fans loved listening to on the radio all year long,' said John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises for iHeartMedia.

'We'll also share stories from the artists themselves about their hard-fought journeys to the top of the charts.'

Social voting began January 18, and closed on March 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT for all categories.