Lady Gaga was in tears as she accepted the "Woman of the Year" award at Billboard's Women in Music event on Friday.

Gaga was introduced by her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, who recalled that she learned to walk and play the piano at the same time. "Four years later, she was playing by ear," she said, adding that "at the age of six, she wrote her first song -- called Dollar Bills."

"It's really hard sometimes for women in music," It's like a f--king boys club we can't get into. Sorry grandma," Lady Gaga told the audience. "But I tried for so long. I just really wanted to be taken seriously as a musician: for my intelligence, more than my body, in this business. To be here today means I'm recognized for my legacy and my songwriting, which means a lot because you don't always feel when you're working that people believe that you have a musical background and that you understand what you're doing, because you're a female."

She continued: "Women provide a wisdom to music that is very unique and special. That is a perspective that no other person can have because we bear life and we go through things that no one goes through, and more importantly, because it's right and we're all equal."

Gaga ended her emotional speech with a message to those who didn't believe in her: "I couldn't wait to prove you wrong. Because I may not be a lot of things, but I can write songs, and I can sing."

The other women honored at the event were: Selena Gomez as Chart Topper, Kelsea Ballerini as Rising Star, Fifth Harmony as Group of the Year, Loretta Lynn as Legend, Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard as Powerhouse, Missy Elliott as Innovator, Tori Kelly as Breakthrough Artist, Demi Lovato as Rulebreaker, and Lana Del Rey as Trailblazer.

Don't miss Billboard's Women in Music, including Gaga's performance of "Til It Happens to You," on December 18th on Lifetime.