The 2024 People’s Choice Awards, hosted by Simu Liu, celebrated the best in movies, television, music and pop culture on Sunday, Feb. 18. The show, which aired live on NBC, Peacock and E!, featured performances by Lenny Kravitz, Lainey Wilson and Kylie Minogue, and honored icons like Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Among the big winners of the night were Taylor Swift, who took home four awards, and Barbie, which won five awards, including movie of the year.

Selena Gomez Wins Female TV Star for Only Murders in the Building

One of the most popular and acclaimed shows of 2024, Only Murders in the Building, starring Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short, won the award for comedy show of the year. The show, which follows three strangers who bond over their obsession with true crime and try to solve a murder in their apartment building, has been praised for its witty writing, clever twists and stellar performances.

Selena Gomez, who plays Mabel Mora, a mysterious and quirky young woman with a dark past, also won the award for female TV star of the year, beating out nominees like Sandra Oh, Issa Rae and Kaley Cuoco. Gomez thanked her co-stars, the creators and the fans for their support and love. She also dedicated her award to her grandfather, who passed away recently.

Barbie Breaks Records and Barriers with Movie of the Year

Barbie, the live-action adaptation of the iconic doll franchise, was the surprise hit of 2024, breaking box office records and earning rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. The movie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, was a smart and satirical comedy that explored themes of identity, feminism and consumerism.

The movie won five awards at the People’s Choice Awards, including movie of the year, comedy movie of the year, male and female movie star of the year for Gosling and Robbie, and movie performance of the year for America Ferrera, who played Barbie’s nemesis, Raquelle. Robbie, who also produced the movie, thanked Gerwig for her vision and the fans for embracing the movie. She also said that Barbie was a role model for girls and women everywhere, and that she hoped the movie inspired them to follow their dreams.

Taylor Swift Dominates Music Categories with Guts and Vampire

Taylor Swift, who released her tenth studio album, Guts, in 2024, was the undisputed queen of the music categories, winning four awards: female artist of the year, pop artist of the year, concert tour of the year and social celebrity of the year. Guts, which featured collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Halsey and Olivia Rodrigo, was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful album that showcased Swift’s maturity, vulnerability and versatility as a songwriter and performer.

Swift also had the song of the year with Vampire, a haunting and hypnotic track that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks. The song, which was co-written and co-produced by Rodrigo, was a fan favorite and a cultural phenomenon, spawning countless memes, covers and TikTok videos. Swift accepted her awards via video message, as she was on tour in Europe. She thanked her fans for their loyalty and dedication, and said that she was grateful for every opportunity to share her music with them.

Other Highlights and Winners of the Night

The 2024 People’s Choice Awards also featured some memorable moments and speeches from other winners and presenters. Some of the highlights were:

• Jennifer Aniston presenting the Comedy Icon Award to Adam Sandler, her co-star in several movies, and praising him for his humor, generosity and talent. Sandler joked that he was honored to receive the award, but also confused, as he thought he was nominated for drama movie of the year for Uncut Gems 2.
• Victoria Monét presenting the Music Icon Award to Lenny Kravitz, who performed a medley of his hits, including Fly Away, American Woman and Are You Gonna Go My Way. Kravitz thanked Monét for her introduction and said that he was inspired by her music and activism. He also thanked his fans for their support and said that music was the universal language of love.
• Travis Kelce winning the Athlete of the Year Award for his outstanding performance as a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl in 2024. Kelce thanked his teammates, coaches and family for their encouragement and said that he was proud to represent his city and his sport. He also gave a shout-out to Taylor Swift, who he said was his favorite singer and his good friend.
• Billie Eilish winning the TV Performance of the Year Award for her role in Swarm, a sci-fi thriller series that featured her as a mutant with the ability to control insects. Eilish said that she was surprised and honored to win the award, as she had never acted before and was nervous about taking on the challenge. She thanked the creators and the cast of the show for their guidance and support, and said that she had a lot of fun playing the character.