Phoebe Bridgers Is the New Trailblazer for Billboard’s Women in Music

On March 3, indie hitmaker Phoebe Bridgers was awarded Billboard’s Trailblazer Award for Billboard’s Women In Music. Bridgers was introduced by her mother, Jamie Bridgers.

Billboard’s Women In Music is an annual event that “recognizes music’s rising artists, creators, producers, and executives for their contributions to the industry and community.” There are numerous awards given to women who have made significant strides in the industry while advocating for necessary change.

This year’s Trailblazer Award was given to “Moon Song” singer Phoebe Bridgers. The Trailblazer Award is an honor given to an artist who acts as a pioneer, using their voice to shed light on voices often not heard or seen. Bridgers is in great company with previous winners such as Kesha, Brandi Carlile, Janelle Monáe, and Hayley Williams.

Prior to Bridgers’ acceptance, the singer took the stage to perform her hit song, “Kyoto.” The track appears on her Grammy-nominated record, Punisher. Instead of wearing her signature skeleton onesie, she opted for an all-white tuxedo pantsuit. Her beautiful performance brought audiences to tears.

Shortly after her performance, Bridgers’ mother, Jamie, gave an emotional speech honoring her daughter’s work. She states of her talented daughter, “I’m so grateful that she’s found a way to use her voice to highlight people and causes she cares about. Sometimes I wish that there was a Phoebe Bridgers when I was a teenager — but that would be weird … as her mother; I’m beaming with pride to be here. As a fan, I’m just excited for the show.”

The “Kyoto” singer does her part each and every year, recording new songs in hopes of benefitting charities near and dear to her heart. In 2020, Bridgers put out a four-track EP titled If We Make It Through December. For those that streamed If We Make It Through December, proceeds went to the Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles. On their website, the organization “strives to serve and empower women experiencing homelessness and those formerly homeless.”

In 2021, the singer shared “Day After Tomorrow” by Tom Waits. All proceeds for the singer’s cover went to the Local Integration & Family Empowerment Division of the International Institute of Los Angeles, which supports immigrants, refugees, and low-income workers in the city.

In addition to Waits’ cover, she also released a haunting rendition of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” The Metallica Blacklist consisted of 53 tracks from 52 different artists, all benefitting various organizations of the artists’ choice. 

After Bridgers’ mom delivered a heartwarming speech, the singer dedicated her award to her biggest fan: her mother. She thanked her mother for supporting her and helping her find her way as an indie artist. She states, “She waited outside venues for hours, in the smell of downtown L.A., to make sure I got home safe. She made me feel like the second coming of Bob Dylan even when my lyrics were really, really bad.” She ends the speech on an emotional note, saying, “So thank you, Mom, for teaching me how to survive.”

phoebe bridgers’ speech at the billboard women in music awards pic.twitter.com/q4t8mL5Iuj

— lia 🚀 (@beeefyfridgerss) March 3, 2022

Congratulations to Phoebe Bridgers on a well-deserved award. Fans can stream her iconic album, Punisher, on all major streaming services.