LOS ANGELES — The MTV Video Music Awards made their West Coast return Sunday. But like many Angelenos when they get stuck in traffic, the show was fashionably late when it aired on CBS.
A football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys ran long, delaying the telecast by about 20 minutes. Many viewers complained that attendees and news outlets that were at the Peacock Theater were spoiling the roughly two-hour show by posting live updates on social media.
But the show went on after the telecast hiccup, with host Snoop Dogg keeping it running in a timely manner.
The rapper, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, promised viewers that the awards would be “the biggest party the VMAs has ever seen.”
Here are some of the night’s biggest moments.
Madonna’s VMAs comeback
Madonna, 68, returned to the VMAs for the first time in 23 years to open the show, with help from Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX.
“It’s mother,” she announced as she graced the stage.
Carpenter reunited with the star to perform their dance track, “Bring Your Love,” which they debuted at Coachella in April during Carpenter’s headlining set.
“Brat” artist Charli XCX and Madonna also performed their single, “Danceteria Afterhours.” Their performance featured a slew of cameos, including actors Julia Fox, Julia Garner, Debi Mazar and Seth Rogen; record producer and songwriter Andrew Watt; fashion designer Tony Ward; and visual artist Fab 5 Freddie.
Madonna was nominated in 13 categories this year, the most of any nominee, for her album “Confessions II.” She took home three awards, including artist of the year.
During her last VMAs appearance, in 2003, she made headlines for kissing both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera onstage, a controversial and iconic moment that made pop culture history.
Accepting the artist of the year statue, she reflected on her performance at the first VMAs 43 years ago, when, she said, her then-manager told her that her career “was over” after she experienced a wardrobe malfunction onstage.
“Seriously, I really want you to know that I spent the last year and a half finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music that I wanted to make,” Madonna said. “And to me, that really is the definition of being an artist. And my hope for all of you here tonight is that you spend the next year or the next 10 years or the rest of your life doing the same, finding yourself and believing in yourself.”
Late music legends honored
The death of Dolly Parton, known as the big-hearted “Queen of Country,” rattled the world last month, with tributes pouring in from fans across cultural, political, geographic and generational lines.
So it came as no surprise when the VMAs decided to honor the Hollywood legend, who died at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves, best known for her “Golden Hour” album, paid homage to Parton on Sunday. She performed Parton’s hit “I Will Always Love You.” Footage of Parton appeared before Musgraves performed.
Taylor Swift later dedicated her award to Parton, calling her the “original showgirl.”
Later in the night, the VMAs also remembered pop superstar and Wham! band member George Michael, who died in 2016 at age 53.
The tribute featured performances from: Sombr, who sang “Faith” and “Father Figure”; Raye, who sang “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”; Teddy Swims, who sang “Careless Whisper”; and Adam Lambert, who closed the set with “Freedom! ’90.”
Nirvana receives Video Vanguard Award
The VMAs never shies away from nostalgia. And this year was no different, with the awards show honoring Nirvana with its coveted Video Vanguard Award.
Surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear reunited to accept the award.
The rock group’s last appearance together at the VMAs was in 1994, five months after frontman Kurt Cobain died.
“Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity,” Novoselic said onstage. “For something real, something uncompromising, something that tells you it’s just OK to come as you are.”
A big night for Taylor Swift
Getting married to NFL star Travis Kelce in July was not the only milestone for Swift this year.
On Sunday, she surpassed Beyoncé to become the most-awarded artist in VMAs history when she brought her Moon Person statue total to 32. Swift and Beyoncé had been tied with 30 VMAs.
The VMAs honored Swift with its inaugural Artist Director Honors, which organizers said was designed to celebrate someone “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.”
Swift’s friend Dakota Johnson, the actor, described her as a “visionary” before she presented her with the award.
Taylor Swift becomes VMAs' first Artist Director honoree
“I got to start making music videos and being part of music videos 20 years ago, and since then I’ve gotten to be a part of making 60 music videos,” Swift said as she accepted the Moon Person onstage. “Eighteen of those I wrote and directed, and I really love writing and directing music videos. The main reason ... is because you, the fans, make it so much fun, you make it so rewarding, because you actually care about what we’re making.”
She thanked MTV and her fans before she debuted the music video for her song “Patient Zero,” which stars Johnson and Colin Farrell and was directed by Swift. Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki, known for “The Revenant” and “Birdman,” did cinematography for the video.
Swift surprised her fans last week by releasing brand-new bonus tracks from the “Showgirl” album, which she wrote and produced in Sweden with Max Martin and Shellback. In addition to “Patient Zero,” “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” tracks include “Cleveland!” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”
Swift was nominated in 11 categories Sunday for her “The Life of a Showgirl” album, which was released almost one year ago.
