Hayley Williams to receive Billboard Trailblazer Award

Punk pop star Hayley Williams is set to be feted as a Trailblazer at the upcoming Billboard Women in Music Awards.

The Paramore frontwoman will receive the inaugural Billboard Trailblazer Award, which is presented to a standout female artist who is willing to take risks for their art.

A statement released by Williams reads: "I can remember a time when I would've been made fun of for doing things differently. Now I'm getting an award for it? This is too much. I'm so excited!

"There are women in this industry who totally bulldozed walls down for the likes of me to come along and do what I believe in. I want to be that for even one girl in the future. I can't wait for the event next month and to high-five some of my sisters in music."

Williams will be in good company at the 12 December (14) prizegiving in New York - Taylor Swift will be honored as the 2014 Billboard Woman of the Year, while Ariana Grande will pick up the Rising Star title and Idina Menzel will take home the first-ever Breakthrough Artist of the Year accolade.