MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan and Katy Perry among winners
Swift Enters MTV History; Katy Perry Shines
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Taylor Swift won seven MTV Awards, bringing her overall count to 30 for her career.
Katy Perry and Chappell Roan showcased their talent as pop stars at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, while Taylor Swift made history by becoming the artist with the most awards ever at the event.
Perry received the Video Vanguard award, which is MTV’s version of a lifetime achievement honor, following her performance of a medley showcasing her career. The set included popular songs like "Roar," "Dark Horse," and "Firework."
Roan, who performed for crowds of 200 just a year ago, won the award for best new artist and dedicated her victory to "all the drag queens who have inspired me."
Swift took home seven awards, including the prestigious artist of the year and video of the year honors. With this win, she has amassed a total of 30 MTV trophies, surpassing Beyoncé to become the most-awarded artist in the history of the event.
Beyoncé has claimed 27 Moonman awards, two of which she received as part of Destiny's Child. This year, however, she did not make an appearance on stage, and she was also overlooked for nominations at this week's CMA Awards.
In her acceptance speech, Swift took the opportunity to motivate her fans to participate in the upcoming US Presidential election next month. This came right after she showed her support for the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
She also honored her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who came to visit her on set while she was directing her acclaimed video for Fortnight.
"Every time I said 'cut,' I could always hear someone cheering from the other side of the studio, and that person was my boyfriend, Travis," she shared.
"Everything this person comes into contact with transforms into joy, excitement, and wonder."
For the third consecutive year, Swift has won the Video of the Year award, following her victories in 2023 with "Anti-Hero" and in 2022 with "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)."
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Megan Thee Stallion was the host and also took the stage to perform at the event.
The awards were handed out at UBS Arena in New York City, marking 40 years since the inaugural MTV Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall.
Cyndi Lauper, the winner of the best female video award for her hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" at the very first ceremony, came back to present Sabrina Carpenter. Carpenter's track "Espresso" received the title of song of the year.
The event showcased performances from rock legend Lenny Kravitz, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes, K-pop sensation Lisa, and rap superstar Eminem, among many others.
Here are some of the highlights from the three-hour event.
Katy Perry Shines With Best Performance Of The Night
Katy Perry has faced some challenges this summer.
The initial two singles from her return album, 143, have failed to resonate with both critics and audiences, so she had to deliver an impressive performance at MTV to turn things around.
Ultimately, her bag held even more unexpected items than Mary Poppins' did.
Her 10-minute highlight performance was nothing short of electrifying. She soared through the air on high wires, danced (in heels) on a massive slanted stage, and twisted into unique poses alongside hip-hop artist Doechii—all while singing beautifully live.
"I managed to do all of that on the very first day of my period as well," she shared with the crowd, pausing to regain her breath.
Orlando Bloom Shows His Soft Side
Perry's performance was a tribute to her Video Vanguard Award, which is MTV's version of a lifetime achievement award.
Her partner, actor Orlando Bloom, handed her the trophy and delivered a heartfelt, affectionate speech.
"Her love is so genuine and overwhelming that it's hard to resist," he remarked. "I notice it all around us—in our home, in her dedication to her job, but most of all in the way she adores her fans."
"Way to go on this achievement, sweetheart," Bloom exclaimed. "I couldn't be prouder of you."
While presenting the Moonman award, Perry joked, "I assumed you were supposed to be at home taking care of our daughter?"
Chappell Roan Embraces Medieval Vibes
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After a decade of staying out of the spotlight, Chappell Roan has emerged as the rising star of 2024.
She embodied the spirit of Joan of Arc in a stunning performance of "Good Luck, Babe," the summer hit that has skyrocketed her into the spotlight.
Wielding a sword and donning complete armor, she kicked off the show by launching a blazing arrow at a medieval fortress, which ignited in a dramatic blaze.
As the walls went up in flames, the soldiers began to fight among themselves, while the singer passionately shared her story of lost love.
Roan sparked some debate by canceling two concerts in Europe to attend the awards ceremony. Her team is optimistic that the positive attention from this impressive performance will help counter any disappointment from her supporters.
Photo credit: Getty Images.
Chappell went on to win the award for best new artist, delivering a speech that she had written in her diary.
The singer dedicated her award to "all the drag performers who motivate me" and expressed her support for "LGBTQ+ youth in the Midwest," where she grew up.
"I know what you're going through; I relate to you, as I share similar experiences," she expressed.
"Never allow anyone to convince you that you can’t become the person you aspire to be."
Taylor Swift Honors 9/11 Victims
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Taylor Swift's initial award presentation on television for the evening was for Best Collaboration, recognizing her duet with Post Malone titled "Fortnight."
As she stepped onto the stage, she took a moment to reflect on those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.
"This morning in New York, on September 11, I found myself reflecting on the events of 23 years ago and thinking about all those who lost family and friends," Swift shared.
"And that's the key takeaway for today."
"Everything that takes place tonight is overshadowed by that."
Megan Thee Stallion's Uncomfortable Moment
Image credit: Getty Images/ MTV
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MTV Awards, host Megan Thee Stallion made an effort to bring back one of the show's most memorable highlights: Britney Spears dancing with a real python during her performance of "I'm A Slave 4 U" back in 2001.
As mentioned earlier, Megan didn't quite exhibit the same level of composure.
"I have no idea who this snake is, and it doesn't know me either," she proclaimed, before letting out a scream as someone attempted to take the snake off her.
Benson Boone Performs Impressive Backflip
Benson Boone took home the award for best alternative artist and then delighted the crowd with a performance of his breakout song, Beautiful Things.
Wearing a shiny blue jumpsuit, he created the song starting from its soft acoustic first verse and building up to a powerful, passionate finale. He highlighted the peak of the performance by executing a backflip off a piano.
Sabrina Carpenter's response from the crowd was unforgettable.
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A Complete Pack Of M&M's!
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Thirteen-time MTV Award winner Eminem kicked off the ceremony with a live performance of his two newest tracks, "Houdini" and "Somebody Save Me."
Wearing a deliberately unconvincing blonde wig, he took the stage alongside a crowd of impersonators. This was a playful reference to his iconic performance of "The Real Slim Shady" at the 2000 VMAs, where he made a memorable entrance surrounded by hundreds of people dressed just like him.
The rapper also won awards for best hip-hop video and best visual effects for his track "Houdini."
Tyla Calls Out MTV For Their Actions
South African sensation Tyla took home the award for Best Afrobeats Song thanks to her captivating breakout track, "Water." However, during her acceptance speech, she emphasized a significant message regarding the issue of music categorization.
"This is truly meaningful, but it comes with a hint of sadness since people often categorize all artists as Afrobeats," noted the artist, whose style aligns more with Amapiano.
"While Afrobeats has created numerous opportunities for us, the diversity of African music goes far beyond it. There's a wealth of styles and sounds to explore."
"I hail from South Africa, and I proudly embody my cultural identity," she finished.
Sabrina Carpenter Wears Madonna's Iconic Dress
Sabrina Carpenter's performance at MTV was absolutely exceptional.
The star performed all three of her UK chart-topping hits—“Taste,” “Espresso,” and “Please Please Please”—on a stage designed like a crescent moon. She danced alongside a group of astronauts and even shared a kiss with an alien.
She eventually took home the award for Song of the Year for "Espresso," and she dedicated the win to "my cats and dogs at home who are watching."
To accept the award, Carpenter walked onto the stage dressed in Madonna's iconic Oscar dress from 1991.
Designed by Bob Mackie, the sparkling bead-embroidered gown is famously recognized for being worn by Madonna at the prestigious awards show, as well as in the iconic photo featuring her with Michael Jackson.
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Lisa Shined Brightly On Stage
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K-pop star Lisa delivered one of the standout performances of the evening with her impressive dance moves, seamlessly blending her popular tracks "Rockstar" and "New Woman" in an energetic medley.
The 27-year-old Thai artist, known by her real name Lalisa Manobal, also won the award for Best K-pop with her song “Rockstar.”
This victory marked her first solo performance at the event. In the past, she had attended as part of the South Korean girl group, Blackpink.
Lenny Kravitz Honors His Late Mother
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For the crowd at UBS Arena in New York, Lenny Kravitz might be recognized more for his role as Cinna in The Hunger Games than for his music and guitar skills.
Still, he won the award for Best Rock Video for his latest single, "Human," and stepped onto the MTV stage for the first time since his performance with Madonna in 1998.
He still has an impressive level of charm, energetically performing a blend of "Are You Gonna Go My Way," "Human," and the 1998 hit "Fly Away," which was recently sampled by hip-hop artist Quavo, who joined him for the finale.
While speaking on stage, Kravitz emotionally dedicated his Moonman award to his late mother, who passed away in 1995.
"31 years ago, my mom was right by my side," he shared. "The last award show we attended together was the VMAs, so I want to dedicate this moment to her."
Rauw Alejandro Brings Puerto Rico To NYC
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Prior to the event, Latin music sensation Rauw Alejandro expressed to the media his desire to pay tribute to his Puerto Rican heritage during his performance.
This involved adding a touch of West Side Story to the event, as the vocalist performed while moving across rooftops and fire escapes, accompanied by dancers wearing 1950s-inspired fedoras.
The show featured a group of traditional bomba and plena dancers and musicians, who delivered a simplified version of "Diluvio" from his 2023 album, Playa Saturno.
"My Latin community, this is for us," he proclaimed as the crowd stood up in excitement.
The 2024 MTV VMAs will be broadcast in the UK on MTV and Paramount Plus at 8 PM on Thursday, September 12th.
