In addition to her record-breaking Super Bowl LIV performance, alongside Shakira, Jennifer Lopez continued her wildly successful 2020 with her honor as the recipient of the Icon Award at the 2020 Billboard Women in Music affair on Thursday night (December 10).
After introductions from her Marry Me co-star Maluma, the pop titan, 51, appeared a little more casual than usual, rocking a knit cardigan for her acceptance speech. "Music has always, always been my passion. For me, when I was little, music took the mundane and elevated it into a celebration," she explained from a remote location. "It's been my obsession ever since and, along with dance, it was my first love, and being able to make music and continue to make music all these years has been one of my biggest blessings. My mom used to put me on the kitchen table and that's where she showed me how to do the booty shake and together we'd sing the oldies or whatever was at the top of the Billboard charts at the time. Those were my first performances and it's what inspired me to do what I've had the privilege to do for all of you all these years."
Lopez went on to send her gratitude for the influential creatives that helped her achieve pop superstardom, as well as her "beautiful family," sending love to fiancé Alex Rodriguez and her children: Emme and Max.
"I do it for you and I cannot do it without you," the star said as she concluded her speech, leaving the last shout-out for her devoted fans.
Among the other honorees at the ceremony included Cardi B (Woman of the Year) Chloe x Halle (Rising Star Award), Dolly Parton (Hitmaker Award), Dua Lipa (Powerhouse Award) and Jessie Reyez (Impact Award), as well as Executives of the Year Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas, the executives behind this year's #TheShowMustBePaused social justice initiative.
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