Tours, festivals, sports—even some film and TV production have all been pushed into 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But one event that kept on, albeit adapted, was last night's (August 30) MTV Video Music Awards. Two lockdown-specific categories were added for this year as well - Best Music Video From Home and Best Quarantine Performance. Live performances were aired from different locations across New York City, and included live debuts from Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, BTS, Machine Gun Kelly, Miley Cyrus, DaBaby, Chloe x Halle, Maluma, Jack Harlow and Tate McRae. Let’s take a look at those.
First off, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, who led the pack in nominations, performed “Rain On Me," part of a medley that also included Chromatica tracks “911” and “Stupid Love."
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BTS suited up for a slickly-choreographed debut of their first all-English single, “Dynamite.” The septet were broadcasting from South Korea but using green screen to highlight iconic NYC spots.
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DaBaby performed a medley of "Peephole," "Blind" and “Rockstar" accompanied by the dance crew Jabbawockeez.
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Miley Cyrus performed her new single “Midnight Sky” with a little nod to “Wrecking Ball"
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Maluma performed “Hawái” from the Skyline Drive-In in Brooklyn
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CNCO live debuted their new track “Beso” from the same location later that evening
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There were some notable VMA pre-show performances as well.
Machine Gun Kelly debuted “my ex’s best friend,” his collab with blackbear, as well as “Bloody Valentine” with Travis Barker
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Chloe x Halle shined for “Ungodly Hour”
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Rising star Tate McRae performed “you broke me first”
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Louisville rapper Jack Harlow made his VMA debut with “What’s Poppin’”
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Check out a list of VMA winners below:
Video of the Year
WINNER: The Weeknd: "Blinding Lights" – XO / Republic Records
Artist of the Year
WINNER: Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records
PUSH Best New Artist
WINNER: Doja Cat — Kemosabe / RCA Records
Song of the Year
WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Best Collaboration
WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
MTV Tricon Award
WINNER: Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records
Best Pop
WINNER: BTS: “On” – Big Hit Entertainment
Best Hip Hop
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion: “Savage” – 300 Entertainment
Best R&B
WINNER: The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records
Best K-Pop
WINNER: BTS: "On" – Big Hit Entertainment
Best Latin
WINNER: Maluma ft. J Balvin: “Qué Pena” – Sony Music Latin
Best Rock
WINNER: Coldplay: “Orphans” – Atlantic Records
Best Alternative
WINNER: Machine Gun Kelly: “Bloody Valentine” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records
Best Group
WINNER: BTS
Best Music Video From Home
WINNER: Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
Best Quarantine Performance
CNCO: MTV Unplugged At Home
Video For Good
WINNER: H.E.R.: “I Can’t Breathe” – MBK / RCA Records
