Taylor Swift won top new female vocalist at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The 18-year-old thanked her mother for going on the road with her beginning when she was 16, leaving behind a comfortable life to sleep in rental cars and on airplanes so her teenage daughter could pursue her dream.

The brilliant young star said this while accepting her award:“Mom, thank you so much,” she said as she fought back tears. “I love you. This is for you.”

The talented musician brought the house down with her performance of Should’ve Said No. She did a change of clothes on stage and ended up finishing her song while standing under a torrent of rain.

Taylor Swift CMA Performance 2009 Video (YouTube)