Olivia Rodrigo
The annual MTV Video Music Awards were given out Sunday night, with Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and Justin Bieber among the big winners. The show also celebrated the 40th anniversary of MTV with an opening speech from one of the network’s icons, Madonna.
Lil Nas X won the big prize for Video of the Year for his controversial “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” clip. “MONTERO” also won for Best Direction and Best Visual Effects. Bieber was honored as Artist of the Year and won Best Pop Song for “Peaches.” Olivia Rodrigo’s smash “drivers license” won for Song of the Year and she was named Best New Artist as well. Rodrigo won for “Push Performance” of the Year, also for “drivers license” in May.
BTS were named Group of the Year and won Best K-Pop song for “Butter,” while “Kiss Me More” from Doja Cat f/SZA was named Best Collaboration. Other winners included Travis Scott, Machine Gun Kelly, Silk Sonic and Billie Eilish.
Of course, the VMAs were filled with wall-to-wall live performances, from Rodrigo playing her hit “good 4 u” to VMA host Doja Cat taking to the air for “Been Like This” and “You Right.” Machine Gun Kelly teamed with his collaborator Travis Barker for “papercuts.” Lil Nas X played a medley of “MONTERO” and new track “INDUSTRY BABY.” Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Twenty One Pilots, Kacey Musgraves and Bieber (teaming with The Kid LAROI) were among the many marquee names also performing at the VMAs.
Foo Fighters‘ career was celebrated with the Global Icon Award and the band played a medley of hits for the crowd. Busta Rhymes also performed a medley from throughout his career, though with no real context as he wasn’t being given an award.
