P!NK accepted the prestigious ICON Award at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday (Mar. 27).
The award acknowledges P!NK’s successes over the last three decades and honors the “Never Gonna Not Dance Again” singer for her “impact on pop culture, longevity and continued relevance as a touring and radio force with a loyal fan base worldwide,” per a press release.
Kelly Clarkson Presented P!NK With The Award
P!nk’s good friend Kelly Clarkson was on hand to present her with the award.
“I cannot be more honored to present the 2023 iHeartRadio ICON Award to an artist I have always been in awe of, that I have always been inspired by and continue to be,” Clarkson began, as she introduced P!nk as the iHeartRadio ICON Award recipient. “A once in a lifetime talent, who is now and forever an ICON, my favorite duet partner, P!nk. Give it up y’all, I love her.”
Clarkson then went on to share some of the 43-year-old’s accolades and gush over achievements and badassery.
“P!nk has taken off quite literally and figuratively from the moment she arrived on the music scene over 20 years ago,” Clarkson continued. “And today, she has sold millions of records and played to millions of fans, I am one of them, all while remaining dedicated to her roles as an activist, a mother and a badass woman who will never compromise what she believes in, which is the greatest example. P!nk authenticity, vulnerability and willingness to let us in as fans is why we all keep buying her music and going to see her live. She’s incredible. P!nk stands out above the rest, but still has this ability to connect with people and feel like she’s one of us and she’s fighting for us whatever it is. Plus, she’s the only person I know that can hit a high c [note] while hanging upside down 50 feet in the air. That’s pretty iconic!”
Pat Benatar And Neil Giraldo Paid Tribute To P!nk
Rock N’ Roll icons Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, who will join P!nk on her Summer Carnival Tour, then paid tribute to the hitmaker with a performance of “Just Like A Pill.”
P!nk And Kelly Clarkson Delivered An Epic Duet
Clarkson then performed a cover of “Just Give Me A Reason,” a tune that originally features Nate Reuss, before P!nk joined her on stage for a rousing duet that had viewers jaws dropping as they combined their powerhouse vocals. P!nk concluded the performance with a mashup of “What About Us” and “All I Know So Far” before accepting the ICON Award, presented by Clarkson.
While accepting the award, P!nk highlighted the power of being vulnerable and thanked every person who helped her get to where she is today.
“Thank you, iHeart. For this moment. It has been said that miracles are often associated with icons. And Kelly Clarkson singing with me and Pat Benatar singing one of my songs, two of the Greatest Voices Alive,” she began. “Being on stage doing what I love with people that I love with all of my heart and my babies in the audience. This feels like a Christmas miracle.”
P!nk Accepts Prestigious ICON Award
“I usually do try to joke or be self-deprecating in these moments, but I want to be a better friend to myself tonight. So, I would like to try and say something honest,” P!nk continued. “Every room I walk into, my heart walks in. First. Every lyric that I write is my heart, crying, raging, hoping, screaming, pleading. You have watched me do this… this sifting through life’s messiness for almost 25 years. And some of you find what I do annoying, and some of you find it brave and I find it… I just find it necessary.”
She continued, “I think as human beings, we are vulnerable from the time we are born until the time we die, and most of us spend our entire lives running from that. Vulnerability means the ability to be wounded. I have decided to make vulnerability my life’s work and for those of you around the world that have joined me on this adventure, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m grateful to be alive. I’m grateful that I get to do this with my one precious life.”
She then thanked her children, manager, collaborators and her husband, Carey Hart.
“Most of all, Willow and Jameson, I am grateful to be your mama. And I do want to say because I never ever thank the people that are behind me. I couldn’t do any of this alone,” she added. “A very huge and very special thank you has to go out to my manager of 22 years, Roger Davies. He is the absolute best that ever did it. Carey Hart, my muse. If he loved me perfectly, I would have nothing to say. Dane Hoyt, my friend. All of my many collaborators over the years and my whole road crew. I couldn’t do any of this without you. I wouldn’t want to and thank you to iHeart and all my friends in the world and I’ll see you on the road. Thank you.”
She Kicked Off The Show With A Performance Of “TRUSTFALL”
P!nk kicked off the iHeartRadio Music Awards with an epic performance of “TRUSTFALL,” the title track to her ninth studio album, which arrived on Friday, February 17, 2023.
“I can’t believe this day is finally here!!” Pink wrote on social media. “I have been waiting almost patiently to share my heart and soul with all of you. This album means so much to me, it’s silly sauce. I hope this becomes the ‘I remember where I was when I listened to that album’ for you.”
The project features 13 tracks, including her current single “Never Gonna Not Dance Again.” In addition to her collaboration with Stapleton, the project also includes duets with alternative rock/folk band The Lumineers and Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit.
P!nk’s new album serves as the follow-up to her first live collection, All I Know So Far: Setlist, as well as her 2019 project, Hurts 2B Human, which included fan-favorite hits such as “Walk Me Home,” “Can We Pretend,” “Hustle,” “Love Me Anyway,” and more.
She Will Soon Hit The Road On Her Massive Stadium Tour
P!NK will soon take her new album on the road as she recently announced that she will be embarking on a massive 2023 Stadium Tour, dubbed the Summer Carnival Tour. The Summer Carnival Tour kicks off on July 24 in Toronto, Ontario at Rogers Centre and continues through October 9, where the tour will wrap up in Phoenix, Arizona at Chase Field.
Produced by Live Nation, the 21-city tour will visit Boston’s Fenway Park, NYC’s Citi Field, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium and more before wrapping up in Phoenix’s Chase Field on October 9, 2023. The trek features special guests Brandi Carlile, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Grouplove and DJ Kid Cut Up.
Additionally, P!nk also just announced a fall arena tour in support of her new album.
The 14-city North American tour, which features support from Grouplove and KidCutUp, will include stops in San Francisco, Vancouver, Denver, Kansas City, Montreal, New York, Cleveland and Miami before coming to a close on November 18 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
Who Performed Or Appeared At The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards?
The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards also featured performances from Lenny Kravitz, ICON Award Recipient P!NK, Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Latto, Muni Long, Cody Johnson and more. Coldplay also performed during the show, live from their Music of the Spheres World Tour stop in Brazil.
Additionally, the star-studded awards show included special appearances by LL Cool J, Cher, Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin, Donald Faison, H.E.R., Joel McHale, Jordan Davis, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, Phoebe Bridgers, TLC, Vella Lovell, Zach Braff and more.
According to a press release, the tenth annual iHeartRadio Music Awards celebrated “the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2022, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2023.”
The two-hour broadcast also featured award presentations in multiple categories, including best lyrics, best music video, best fan army, the social star award, favorite tour photographer, TikTok bop of the year, favorite documentary, favorite tour style, favorite residency and favorite use of a sample.
Hosted by Lenny Kravitz, the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards aired LIVE from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, March 27, on FOX at 8/7c. The event was also streamed on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.
