The newly political singing artist Taylor Swift just can’t seem to help herself when it comes to speaking out about the upcoming mid-term elections. Tuesday's 2018 American Music Awards ceremony provided her with another opportunity to do just that. At the end of the show, as she accepted the award as Artist of the Year, she ended with a reminder to the audience – “Get out and vote.”
Swift: Okay. Okay -- wow. All right. It's just been -- I just want to say to the fans, you have been so nice to me. And fun. And you're so funny. And you're so cool. And so loyal, and I am so -- it's not lost on me. I understand how lucky I am to have anyone that cares about me or my music. And, wow. Okay -- I just, every time that you have made me lucky enough to ever get to stand on a stage and have something really sparkly in my hands and say thank you, every single time this happens, it means something differently to -- It means something different every time, represents something different. This time, it represents encouragement and motivation for me to be better, work harder, and make you guys proud as much as I possibly can.
So, thank you for this incredible symbol of encouragement. And I wanted to make a mention of the fact that this award and every single award given out tonight were voted on by the people. And you know what else is voted on by the people....is the mid-term elections on November 6. Get out and vote. I love you guys.
This particular award was also important because Swift is now the record holder of AMA trophies. She can now claim to have won more of the awards than any other artist.
Thankfully, the ceremony, which aired on ABC, was partisan politics-free as there were no lectures from liberal artists blasting the president or conservative voters.
Blackish actress Tracee Ellis Ross was the host for the second year in a row. After one of her many wardrobe changes, she came out in a long red skirt topped by a white t-shirt with the words "I’m A Voter" across the chest. I was pleasantly surprised that this politically active Hollywood liberal didn’t feel the need to add a lecture to her garment’s message.
Actor Billy Eichner, presenting an award, did include a plea for the audience to get out and vote as he listed some hot-button issues like climate control and women’s rights but he, too, left out parties and politician names in his appeal.
I’m struck by the thought that if more shows would at least take the more passive approach of sliding in non-partisan political messages (though we all know that the entertainment world is a liberal one and that "vote" means "vote liberal"), perhaps the half of the country turned off by the typical liberal rants given at awards shows today would give them a second look. I am not holding my breath but it’s something for them to consider if they want to have any hope of increasing ratings.
