Taylor Swift will receive The Hollywood Reporter’s Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at its annual Women in Entertainment breakfast gala in Los Angeles. Greta Gerwig will present the honour, bringing together two prominent creative figures for an event celebrating women’s influence across the entertainment industry.
Announced on 11 November, the recognition highlights Swift’s leadership, charitable work and determination to take ownership of her music. The gala will coincide with the publication’s Women in Entertainment issue and its Power 100 list of influential female executives and talent.
Recognition for taking control of her career
In announcing the award, The Hollywood Reporter’s editor-in-chief, Maer Roshan, pointed to Swift’s artistic and commercial achievements alongside her campaign to reclaim her catalogue. He also highlighted the implications of that campaign for other artists negotiating control over their work.
That story reached a milestone in May 2025, when Swift announced that she had purchased her original master recordings from Shamrock Capital. The acquisition brought the recordings of her first six albums under her ownership, alongside associated material including music videos, artwork and photography.
In her announcement, Swift credited the support for her re-recordings and the success of the Eras Tour with helping make the purchase possible. She also described hearing from younger artists who had negotiated ownership of their own recordings after following her experience.
The woman behind the award
The honour is named after Sherry Lansing, whose career helped change the possibilities for women in Hollywood’s executive ranks. In 1980, she became the first woman to head a major film studio when she was appointed president of 20th Century Fox.
She later served as chairman and chief executive of Paramount Pictures from 1992 to 2005. Across almost three decades in the film business, Lansing was involved in the production, marketing and distribution of more than 200 films.
Her subsequent foundation has focused on cancer research, public education and opportunities for people pursuing new careers later in life. That combination of professional leadership and philanthropy is reflected in the award bearing her name.
Joining a distinguished group of honourees
Swift joins previous recipients including Adele, Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon, Viola Davis, Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand and Meryl Streep.
Lansing praised Swift’s ownership of her career and her commitment to giving back. The award recognises trailblazers and philanthropists working across entertainment and media, placing the emphasis on influence and contribution as well as professional success.
Opening doors for the next generation
The Women in Entertainment event also supports a mentorship programme connecting young women from under-resourced Los Angeles high schools with senior female executives in entertainment.
Run in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the initiative combines a year of mentoring with educational support and access to professional networks.
According to the foundation, every participant receives a college scholarship and a laptop. Selected students also receive full-tuition scholarships to Loyola Marymount University or Chapman University, helping reduce the financial barriers to continuing their education.
The programme’s support extends to exploring career pathways and developing relationships with experienced industry figures. For the students involved, the gala connects the women being celebrated on stage with a network intended to help them pursue ambitions of their own.
