WOMEN ON TOP IN LOS ANGELES THE GRAMMYS TAYLOR SWIFT MAKES HISTORY AT GLITZY AWARDS

Trailblazing women reigned supreme at this year's Grammy Awards, and it was the industry's golden girl Taylor Swift who was the toast of the town.

- MILY HORAN

Not only did the pop powerhouse make history by becoming the first artist to win the night's most coveted award - Album of the Year - four times, she also sent her global fanbase into a frenzy by using the occasion to announce her next release.

BIG REVEAL

"I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I've been keeping from you for the past two years," she said as she picked up another gong: the Best Pop Vocal Album award, also for Midnights.

"My brand-new album comes out on 19 April. It's called The Tortured Poets Department," she said, as the auditorium erupted into rapturous whoops and cheers.

It came as no surprise that the 34-year-old dominated the event; 2023 was arguably Taylor's biggest year yet, with her net worth topping $1bn, the release of Midnights and her Eras Tour sweeping the globe.

The glitzy ceremony, held at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena and hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, was a celebration of female talent.

Celine Dion was met with a standing ovation as she made a sensational return to the public eye, walking on to the stage on the arm of her son René-Charles Angélil to present Taylor with the Album of the Year award.

"Thank you, all. I love you right back. You look beautiful. When I say I'm happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart," said the Canadian star, who has stepped back from live performing since announcing in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with rare neurological disorder stiff person syndrome.

LIVING LEGENDS

The My Heart Will Go On singer wasn't the only musical star to delight the audience. Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Annie Lennox, Billy Joel and U2 were among those performing, alongside younger artists such as Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Dua Lipa, who opened the show with a stunning medley of hits.