Still in shock! With more than one hundred award nominations throughout her impressive career, you’d think Taylor Swift wouldn’t be all that surprised to receive another trophy.
The country-turned-pop star won her first Grammy Award in 2009, scoring the prestigious Album of the Year win for her second studio record, Fearless. The wins kept coming that night as she took home Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song and Best Country Album. As she climbed onstage to accept the honors, Swift clasped her hand over her mouth in utter disbelief.
As her winning streaks continued over the years, the Pennsylvania native’s candid expressions that accompanied each major award she received became notorious, meme-worthy moments. For her second Album of the Year win at the 2016 Grammys, Swift made a powerful statement about unabashedly celebrating her accomplishments in the face of criticism.
“As the first woman to win Album of the Year at the Grammys twice, I want to say to all the young women out there, there are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame,” the “Look What You Made Me Do” singer said at the time. “But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you’re going, you’ll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you who put you there. And that will be the greatest feeling in the world.”
In March 2021, Swift became the first woman to have three Album of the Year wins, winning the Grammy for her eighth studio album, Folklore. Not only has the Miss Americana star made Grammys history, but she’s also earned 23 Billboard Music Awards, 12 Country Music Association Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards and a Brit Award.
The Cats actress also holds the record for most American Music Award wins by any musician with 32 trophies. While accepting the Artist of the Decade award at the 2019 AMAs, Swift shared the special moment with the fans who’ve stayed by her side through it all.
“The fact that this is an award that celebrates a decade of hard work and of art and of fun and memories, all that matters to me is the memories that I have had with you guys, with you the fans, over the years,” she said at the time. “Guys, we’ve had fun, incredible, exhilarating, extraordinary times together, and may it continue. Thank you for being the reason why I am on this stage, from the very first day of my career until tonight.”
Scroll down to see all of Swift’s most outrageous surprised faces through the years!
Credit: Frederick Breedon/FilmMagic
June 16, 2009
The curly-haired country cutie seemed genuinely stunned by her win at the 2009 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn., where she took home the Video of the Year trophy for her fairytale-themed “Love Story.”
Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
September 13, 2009
Swift wasn’t the only one surprised by Kanye West‘s sudden appearance onstage at Radio City Music Hall. In a now-infamous moment at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, the rapper interrupted the young star’s acceptance speech for “Best Female Video” to argue that the award should have gone to Beyonce‘s “Single Ladies” clip. (The “Red” singer later wrote about the incident in the song “Innocent.”)
Credit: Rob Hill/WireImage.com
November 11, 2009
The “Fearless” singer’s surprise was well-earned at the 43rd Annual Country Music Association Awards, where she became, at 19, the youngest artist ever to be nominated for, and win, the Entertainer of the Year honor.
Credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com
January 31, 2010
At the 52nd Grammy Awards pre-telecast, the then-20-year-old took home two trophies, for Best Female Country Performance and Country Song of the Year. “This is my first Grammy, you guys!” she exclaimed in disbelief.
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
January 31, 2010
Swift’s surprised face made several appearances at the 52nd Grammy Awards, where she took home four trophies and became the youngest artist ever to win the coveted Grammy for Album of the Year. “People make so much fun of me for that [face],” she told Nightline later. “I don’t know. It’s like, if you win an award, isn’t that crazy? How do you sit there and be like ‘Oh, another Grammy. I guess I’m gonna get that now.'”
Credit: Christopher Polk/ACMA2010/Getty Images for ACMA
April 18, 2010
Fresh off her performance of “Change” at the 2010 ACM Awards in Las Vegas, the singer was surprised backstage by a group of friends and admirers.
Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for PCA
January 5, 2011
The singer — in a pale peach J. Mendel frock — started her year off right with a win for Favorite Country Artist at the People’s Choice Awards in L.A.
Credit: Kevin Winter/ACMA2011/Getty Images for ACM
April 3, 2011
The country superstar was anything but mellow in yellow when she won Entertainer of the Year at the 46th Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas. (She was also nominated for the honor in 2010 but lost out to two-time winner Carrie Underwood.)
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for ABC
May 22, 2011
The “I Knew You Were Trouble” singer was stunned to receive the Billboard Award for Top Billboard 200 Artist, presented by Glee actor Matthew Morrison. (She also won Top Country Artist and Top Country Album, for Speak Now.)
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
August 7, 2011
The singer couldn’t hide her gleeful surprise when she accepted the surfboard for Choice Female Artist from best gal pal Emma Stone at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards. “My friends are amazing and I’m so thankful to have them, [but] the ones that are like sisters to me are Selena Gomez and Emma Stone,” she told PopSugar. “They can predict my thoughts…it’s really cool to have friends that are that close.”
Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
November 9, 2011
Swift’s shock over receiving the Entertainer of the Year CMA Award in 2011 lasted long after she finished her acceptance speech and headed into the press room for photos. (It was her second time taking home the prestigious honor; she also won in 2009.)
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/AMA2011/FilmMagic
November 20, 2011
The “Speak Now” songwriter (in Reem Acra) celebrated winning an American Music Award with BFF Selena Gomez (in Giorgio Armani). To date, Swift has been nominated for 13 AMAs — all but two of which she won.
Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
February 12, 2012
Swift walked the red carpet at the 2012 Grammys in a gorgeous, gold Zuhair Murad gown, which she accessorized with her famous surprised face as How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris looked on in bewilderment. Later in the evening, the “Mean” singer trotted out the same face to accept the awards for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song.
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
March 31, 2012
The “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” songwriter couldn’t hide her shock and awe accepting the Big Help award from First Lady Michelle Obama at Nickelodeon’s 25th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards. (The Big Help award recognizes stars’ charitable work.) “I’ve always wanted to meet you!” Swift told the FLOTUS when the took the stage. “This is amazing…I’m freaking out.”
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
April 1, 2012
Country crooner and Voice mentor Blake Shelton poked fun at Swift’s trademark surprised face when she presented him with the award for Male Vocalist of the Year at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Credit: tk
November 11, 2012
Swift — in a glittering, cut-out J. Mendel gown — was the night’s big winner at MTV’s Europe Music Awards in Frankfurt, Germany. This particular reaction was in response to hearing her name called for Best Look. (She also took home Best Live Act and Best Female.)
November 18, 2012
Despite having already won 128 times prior to the 40th American Music Awards, the star was shocked when her name was called for Favorite Country Female Artist. Earlier in the night, she gave photographers a preview of her surprised face on the red carpet outside L.A.’s Nokia Theatre.
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
February 10, 2013
The odds were ever in her favor as Taylor Swift picked up the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media Award for “Safe & Sound (from The Hunger Games),” and yet the country star looked positively shocked that she and songwriter John Paul White and T Bone Burnett picked up the award.
Credit: Frederick Breedon IV/FilmMagic
November 6, 2013
Taylor Swift tearfully accepted the Pinnacle Award from Faith Hill during the Country Music Awards. “They told me that this was going to happen, but I didn’t know there was going to be all this!” a shocked Swift said.
Credit: Christopher Polk/AMA2013/Getty Images for DCP
November 24, 2013
“Who me?” Swift seemed to say after winning Favorite Country Album for Red during the American Music Awards. “I cannot believe what you’ve done in the last year,” she said during her acceptance speech. “This album came out almost exactly a year ago and the fact that 6 million of you went out and bought it is crazy. Thank you, you are everything to me. I really appreciate this.”
October 30, 2014
OMG! Swift left her mouth agape while performing on Good Morning America in Times Square in New York City.
November 12, 2014
Swift’s face screamed “no way!” while watching the Orlando Magic take on the New York Knicks courtside at Madison Square Garden.
Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
December 22, 2014
The “Look What You Made Me Do” singer couldn’t hold in her excitement after seeing Carole King’s Beautiful on Broadway.
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
March 29, 2015
Swift seemingly ran into the best person ever while attending the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty Images for dcp
April 19, 2015
Honoree Swift looked super touched while accepting the Milestone Award during the Academy of County Music Awards in Arlington, Texas.
Credit: Kevin Winter/BMA2015/Getty Images for dcp
May 17, 2015
The “…Ready For It?” songstress seemed a bit overwhelmed after taking home Artist of the Year and Top Female Artist at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Credit: Kevin Mazur/MTV1415/WireImage
August 30, 2015
Before their feud was very much back on, Swift caught herself laughing with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian at the MTV VMAs in Los Angeles.
Credit: Kevin Winter/WireImage
February 15, 2016
No way! Swift was shocked to learn she won Album of the Year for 1989 at the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
August 26, 2019
Less “Me!” and more “Me?” The Pennsylvania native brought back her surprised face at the 2019 MTV VMAs as she won both Video for Good and Video of the Year for “You Need to Calm Down.”
Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
November 24, 2019
Like the rest of the world, the “Lover” singer was completely stunned by her pals Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s performance of their hit “Señorita” at the 2019 American Music Awards. At one point, she even leaned in close to her seatmate, Billy Porter, when Shawnmila were inches away from locking lips on live television. Swift’s initial open-mouthed reaction became a trending topic among several Twitter users, who memed the hilarious viral moment.
Credit: Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock
March 14, 2021
The “Betty” songstress took home the trophy for Album of the Year at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, and while fans thought she was a shoo-in for the major honor, Swift couldn’t hide her surprise. That night, she became the first woman in Grammys history to have three AOTY wins under her belt.
August 28, 2022
A shocked and excited Swift gave cinematographer Rina Yang a big hug when she won Breakthrough Long Form Video for her “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” short film at the 2022 VMAs. “We put our entire hearts into this trying to make something worthy of the love that you, the fans have shown this song,” she said as she accepted the Moonperson.
September 12, 2023
Swift was shook at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards when ’NSync reunited to present her with Song of the Year for her single “Anti-Hero.”
“I had your dolls!” Swift gushed, before telling the audience she was “millennial triggered” by the iconic boy band.
