Taylor Swift dedicated her MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year honour to Dolly Parton, describing the country music icon as “the ultimate showgirl.”
Swift won the night’s top award for her song “The Fate of Ophelia” and took the stage to accept the Moonperson trophy.
During her speech, Swift said she was proud of the work behind the music video, which was filmed as one continuous shot and required careful planning to hide edits. “I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person, without whom just this wouldn’t be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl, Dolly Parton.”
She praised Parton’s songwriting and storytelling ability, saying the country legend’s songs created vivid images for listeners. “Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich. It was like listening to her songs. It’s like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life every single time you hear what she has written.”
The singer also celebrated Parton’s approach to fame and her ability to turn life experiences into messages of love, gratitude and appreciation for her fans.
Swift said she felt fortunate to have experienced Parton’s influence and thanked her for inspiring generations of artists. “I am lucky I got to be one of them, and I will always be one of them.”
The tribute came as Swift collected one of the biggest honours of the night at the annual MTV VMAs, where artists from across genres competed for recognition in major categories.
Swift’s win for “The Fate of Ophelia” added another major achievement to her career, while her tribute highlighted Parton’s continued influence on music and popular culture.
Erizia Rubyjeana
Follow us on:
