Taylor Swift did something at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night that has not been achieved since 2005.
The 23-year-old was honored with the CMA’s Pinnacle Award, an award given to an artist for bringing country music to a worldwide audience and has not been handed out since Garth Brooks was honored eight years ago.
After her huge night, Access Hollywood’s Michelle Beadle spoke with Taylor backstage at the CMAs in Nashville.
“I was shocked at the entire presentation of it because I kind of thought [since] they announced it beforehand and they [would have been] like, ‘Taylor’s getting the Pinnacle Award.’ I kind of thought it was gonna be like, ‘Congratulations Taylor, you got the Pinnacle Award, and our next performance is…,” she told Michelle as she clutched the award.
Taylor, who wore a red gown by Elie Saab, explained that she was surprised by the star power enlisted to her honor her.
“I didn’t think it was gonna be like a whole thing with a video package. And they had Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon and Mick Jagger!” she continued. “Everybody I love so much like saying congratulations. When Justin Timberlake came on I was just like, ‘What!?’ It’s just so nice. It’s so nice of him to do that. And Julia Roberts I just love, and Mick. These are people I idolize. You don’t understand.”
PHOTOS: CMA Awards 2013
The singer has won many awards in her time, but Wednesday’s Pinnacle Award might be at the top of her list.
“I was just, I mean, for me it was probably the most special I’ve ever been made to feel,” she told Michelle.
Adding, “These are people I idolize. You don’t understand. I was freaking out the whole time!”
— Jesse Spero
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