Nicki Minaj Gets Emotional and Thanks Taylor Swift During Acceptance Speech for Billboard “Rising Star” Award

Nicki Minaj​ got a little emotional when she accepted her “Rising Star of 2011″ award last week at Billboard’s 6th Annual Women in Music event.

The award, which Nicki dedicated to her “Barbz” (her fans), highlights an incredible year for the Young Money rapstress. And naturally, she got a little teary eyed as she thanked her loyal fans.

“I just know that I am so incredibly thankful and grateful for a couple little kids. Maybe a few million, I call them my Barbz and I know they are not in here today but I know they will hear me say this,” a teary eyed Nicki Minaj said in her acceptance speech. “Barbz, I love you so much for being by my side for such a long time. Billboard, Thank you so much for recognizing me. Even before Superbass and even before Pink Friday, you believed in me.”

 She continued, “All of the women tonight that have been recognized, I am so proud of you for showing me that this can be done, and that this is possible and for showing so many girls that you can be your own boss and that you can make music that you want and that you can project an image that you believe in.”

Immediately after receiving her award, Nicki also thanked “Woman of the Year” award recipient Taylor Swift​, who contributed to the success of Nicki’s hit single “Super Bass.”

Nicki told Robin Roberts, “First I saw a radio interview and they asked her what song she liked and she said, ‘Can it be a song that didn’t come out yet’ and she started rapping Super Bass. Then she tweeted that she liked ‘Super Bass’ and then all of her fans who had never heard about Nicki Minaj went and purchased it. After Taylor tweeted that, ‘Super Bass’ climbed up 80 something spots the same day on Itunes. And that is why people don’t understand why I keep on Thanking Taylor Swift. This is real.”