Madonna was the biggest winner at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, one of the leading music award shows in the United States. She was named Artist of the Year and returned to the event after 23 years with 11 nominations for “Confessions II.” At 68, she opened the ceremony with a dance-floor-themed performance on stage. She performed “Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli XCX was associated with the collaboration “Danceteria Afterhours.” Madonna also won Best Dance for “Confessions II – The Film” and Best Collaboration for “Bring Your Love.”
The live program included Raye, Bruno Mars, Shaboozey and Lisa of Blackpink. Nirvana received the VMA’s top honorary prize, the Video Vanguard Award, recognizing lasting influence on music. Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear accepted; Smear lit a cigarette on stage. Raye, Kacey Musgraves and other performers also paid tribute to George Michael and Dolly Parton.
Taylor Swift received a newly introduced honor for music-video direction, intended for artists who direct some or all of their own videos. The ceremony also premiered her “Patient Zero” video, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell and linked to “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.” With the honor, Swift became the most-awarded solo artist in VMA history, with 31 trophies.
The 43rd ceremony took place Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and was hosted by rapper Snoop Dogg. The category lists provided in the article include Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, GENER8ION featuring Yung Lean, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift among the Video of the Year nominees. Artist of the Year nominees listed were Grande, Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Carpenter and Swift. Best New Artist names included Bella Kay, Cortis, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro, Stella and Lefty. Collaboration entries included Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice for “Chains & Whips”; French Montana and Max B for “Ever Since U Left Me”; Madonna and Carpenter for “Bring Your Love”; PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for “Stateside”; Shakira and Burna Boy for “Dai Dai”; and Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye for “Hard Part.”