Taylor Swift doesn't think the Recording Academy is mean. Though she won the Grammy for album of the year in 2010, she's not sad her latest multiplatinum effort isn't up for the honor this time around. “I got three nominations. I was just so excited,” she said Friday, before she was honored as Billboard's “Woman of the Year.” Among the Swift achievements that led to her Billboard honor was the best-selling performance of her third album “Speak Now,” which has sold more than 3.7 million copies and generated hits like “Mine” and “Mean.” One of the country singer's favorite artists, Nicki Minaj, was also honored at the event as Billboard's “Rising Star.” Like Swift, Minaj was rocking blonde bangs. “This is my Taylor Swift look,” Minaj joked. But the rapper and singer got teary-eyed at the event when Minaj received her honor. She's costarred on dozens of hit songs in the last two years, and her debut CD, “Pink Friday,” has sold more than 1.6 million copies in the United States. Minaj is nominated for four Grammys, including best new artist, pitting her against the Band Perry, Bon Iver, Skrillex and J. Cole.
