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iHeartRadio Music Awards 2024: Beyonce channels new Cowboy Carter album with countrified Versace leather suit as she's presented Innovator Award by Stevie Wonder
Beyoncé had all eyes on her as she strutted on stage at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday to receive the coveted Innovator Award.
The 42-year-old singer–songwriter was presented with the honorary prize by another living legend, Stevie Wonder, 73, at the eleventh-annual ceremony.
The hitmaker was being honored in the wake of her record-breaking release of her album Cowboy Carter, a sequel of sorts to her chart-topping Renaissance and her first album to feature several country-styled songs.
Beyoncé channeled her recent country influences with her striking black leather Western-style suit from Versace, which she complemented with a gold-adorned cowboy hat.
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.
Beyoncé had all eyes on her as she strutted on stage at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday to receive the coveted Innovator Award
The 42-year-old singer–songwriter was presented with the honorary prize by another living legend, Stevie Wonder, 73, at the eleventh-annual ceremony
Beyoncé stunned in a countrified black leather suit from Versace, along with a matching cowboy hat to celebrate her new country-inflected album Cowboy Carter
She was dressed in a busty black leather top decorated with gold medallions featuring Versace's Medusa logo.
The top was cinched around her trim waist with multiple thick belts, and she wore a complementary set of black leather pants with intricate designs in beads and studs running up the side of her legs.
Beyoncé stood tall in a pair of pointy black cowboy boots, and the long, wavy blond locks that she has recently been wearing to promote her album flowed out from under her gold-adorned black hat.
As he introduced Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder sang her praises while listing some of her earlier iconic accomplishments, including her 2013 self-titled visual album, her 2016 album Lemonade — which was accompanied by a feature-length film of the same name — and her 2022 chart-topper Renaissance, along with a collaborative LP with her husband Jay-Z, a Lion King soundtrack and two acclaimed concert films.
Beyoncé looked over the moon as she walked up to the iconic singer–songwriter for a hug, before she whispered something into his ear while the crowd roared.
As she turned to the microphone, she told Wonder: 'I love you' and 'I honor you.'
'I want to thank you for making a way for all of us,' she told him, adding, 'Whenever anyone asks me if there's anything I can listen to for the rest of my life, It's always you.'
She also shared that Wonder had recently helped her out on her Cowboy Carter album by playing the harmonica on her rewritten cover of Dolly Parton's country classic Jolene.
'Tonight, you call me an innovator, and for that I'm very grateful,' she continued as she addressed the audience and the awards body and described her creative process.
'Innovation starts with a dream. But then you have to execute that dream, and that road can be very bumpy,' she explained. 'Being an innovator is seeing what everyone believes is impossible. Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength.'
Beyoncé also urged 'all the record labels, every radio station, every award show' to be more willing to share innovative music from artists, rather than focusing on safe, middle-of-the-road music.
The hitmaker was being honored in the wake of her record-breaking release of Cowboy Carter, a sequel of sorts to her chart-topping Renaissance and her first album to feature several country-styled songs
Beyoncé looked over the moon as she walked up to the iconic singer–songwriter for a hug, before she whispered something into his ear while the crowd roared
'I want to thank you for making a way for all of us,' she told him, adding, 'Whenever anyone asks me if there's anything I can listen to for the rest of my life, It's always you'
She also shared that Wonder had recently helped her out on her Cowboy Carter album by playing the harmonica on her rewritten cover of Dolly Parton's country classic Jolene
'My hope is that we're more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art, with no preconceived notions,' she continued.
Beyoncé concluded her brief acceptance speech by praising other artists who had influenced and inspired her over the years, including, Rosetta Tharpe, Tracy Chapman, Linda Martell, Prince, Stevie Wonder, André 3000, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and 'so many more who defy any label placed on them.'
She also included a shoutout for her husband Jay-Z, who is referenced on Cowboy Carter, whom she called 'my rock [and] best friend' and added, 'I love you.'
She also mentioned her 'three beautiful children' — Blue Ivy, 12, and six-year-old twins Sir and Rumi — 'who continue to be my inspiration and my biggest blessing.'
Beyoncé was honored at the iHeartRadio Music Awards just days after releasing Cowboy Carter, which she previously announced during a Super Bowl commercial.
She describes it as 'Act II' of a trilogy she has teased, which began with Renaissance, which was inspired by dance music and LGBTQ innovators, though so far there is no indication of what the concluding volume will sound like.
Ludacris hosted the celeb-packed affair, and Beyoncé and Cher received awards recognizing their contributions to music. The Queen Bey was awarded the iHeartRadio Innovator Award while Cher received the Icon Award.
In addition to seeing their favorite artists win awards, viewers were treated to an array of performances by Justin Timberlake, Tate McRae, Green Day, Jelly Roll and TLC.
The ceremony can be watched on FOX and heard on various iHeartRadio stations and on the iHeartRadio app.
Beyoncé's top was cinched around her trim waist with multiple thick belts, and she wore a complementary set of black leather pants with intricate designs in beads and studs running up the side of her legs
She stood tall in a pair of pointy black cowboy boots, and the long, wavy blond locks that she has recently been wearing to promote her album flowed out from under her gold-adorned black hat
'Tonight, you call me an innovator, and for that I'm very grateful,' she continued as she addressed the audience and the awards body and described her creative process
'Innovation starts with a dream. But then you have to execute that dream, and that road can be very bumpy,' she explained. 'Being an innovator is seeing what everyone believes is impossible. Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength.'
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,' he said.
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 and 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 and SZA.
The Weeknd, Tyla, Usher and Yng Lvcas round out the list.
Song of the Year nominees include: Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez; Creepin' by Metro Boomin with The Weeknd and 21 Savage; Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift; Dance The Night by Dua Lipa; Fast Car by Luke Combs; Flowers by Miley Cyrus; Kill Bill by SZA; Last Night by Morgan Wallen; Paint The Town Red by Doja Cat; and Vampire by 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.
Beyoncé also urged 'all the record labels, every radio station, every award show' to be more willing to share innovative music from artists, rather than focusing on safe, middle-of-the-road music
She concluded with shoutouts for Jay-Z, whom she called her 'rock,' and her three children, Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Sir and Rumi, six
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 for all categories.