Billboard’s annual Women in Music Awards honors the top female artists, producers and executives who’ve made huge strides in the music industry that year. Though the event has expanded since its inception, each year, one woman is awarded the highest honor of Woman of the Year. Reba McEntire was the first to be awarded in 2007, with the most recent honor going to SZA in 2023. Taylor Swift is the only woman to receive the award twice — in 2011 and in 2014.
“Since she burst onto the scene in 2017, SZA has defied genres and continually released raw, powerful songs which have landed her music on the Billboard charts,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s editorial director, in a press statement. “The release of her latest album, SOS, has solidified her as a distinct force in contemporary R&B, and catapulted her into superstardom. We can’t wait to honor her as Woman of the Year.”
Check out the past years’ honorees in the gallery below.
Billboard’s 2023 Women in Music Awards will stream live from Los Angeles on March 1. Tickets are available to the public, and can be purchased via Ticketmaster here, with more information at billboardwomeninmusic.com. Prices range from $85 to $275. Sponsors for the 2023 Women in Music Awards include American Express, Honda, Mugler, Nationwide, Bose and Smirnoff ICE.
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SZA, 2023 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: AB + DM SZA photographed on October 11, 2022 at Quixote Studios in Los Angeles.
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Olivia Rodrigo, 2022 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/GI for Billboard Olivia Rodrigo accepts the 2022 Woman of the Year award onstage during Billboard Women in Music 2022 at YouTube Theater on March 2, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif.
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Cardi B, 2020 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: 2020 Billboard Women In Music/GI for Billboard Cardi B accepts the Woman of the Year Award during the Billboard Women In Music 2020 event on Dec. 10, 2020.
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Billie Eilish, 2019 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Rich Fury/GI for Billboard Billie Eilish accepts the Woman of the Year Award onstage during Billboard Women In Music 2019, presented by YouTube Music, on Dec. 12, 2019 in Los Angeles.
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Ariana Grande, 2018 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Mike Coppola/GI for Billboard Ariana Grande speaks onstage at Billboard Women In Music 2018 on Dec. 6, 2018 in New York City.
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Selena Gomez, 2017 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Michael Kovac/GI for Billboard Selena Gomez accepts the Woman of the Year Award onstage at Billboard Women In Music 2017 at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on Nov. 30, 2017 in Hollywood, Calif.
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Madonna, 2016 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Nicholas Hunt/GI for Billboard Magazine Madonna speaks on stage at the Billboard Women in Music 2016 on Dec. 9, 2016 in New York City.
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Lady Gaga, 2015 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for Lifetime Lady Gaga speaks onstage during Billboard Women in Music 2015 on Lifetime at Cipriani 42nd Street on Dec. 11, 2015 in New York City.
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Taylor Swift, 2014 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic Taylor Swift attends the 2014 Billboard Women in Music luncheon at Cipriani Wall Street on Dec. 12, 2014, in New York City.
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P!nk, 2013 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Larry Busacca/GI P!nk speaks onstage at Billboard’s annual Women in Music event at Capitale on Dec. 10, 2013, in New York City.
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Katy Perry, 2012 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Mike Coppola/GI Katy Perry poses with her Billboard Woman of the Year award at the 2012 Billboard Women in Music luncheon at Capitale on Nov. 30, 2012, in New York City.
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Taylor Swift, 2011 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Theo Wargo/WireImage Taylor Swift attends Billboard’s Women in Music event at Capitale on Dec. 2, 2011, in New York City.
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Fergie, 2010 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas attends Billboard’s Women in Music Awards at The Pierre Hotel on Dec. 2, 2010, in New York City.
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Beyonce, 2009 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage Beyonce attends Billboard’s Women in Music event at The Pierre Hotel on Oct. 2, 2009, in New York City.
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Ciara, 2008 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Mike Coppola/WireImage Ciara attends the Billboard Women in Music breakfast at the St. Regis Hotel on Oct. 24, 2008, in New York City.
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Reba McEntire, 2007 Woman of the Year
Image Credit: Theo Wargo/WireImage Reba McEntire at the 2007 Billboard Women in Music breakfast at the Core Club in New York City on Sept. 5, 2007.