VMA’s celebrated a night with melodious harmony, Justin Bieber won Artist of the year and performed on the VMA stage after six years. Bieber kicked off Sunday’s ceremony with an energetic performance that featured him rappelling from the ceiling of Barclays Center” and launching into “Stay” with Kid LAROI and his single “Ghost.”
The VMA’s celebrated 40th Anniversary with top stars, Lil Nas X bagged the marquee Video of the Year award for his “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and while accepting his award the artist said, “I do not take this for granted.”
Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY saw ‘Driver’s Licence’ Singer Olivia Rodrigo charm three awards for her debut album ‘Sour’, the singer won awards for Song of the Year, Best New Artist and Push Performance of the Year. Justin Bieber too celebrated multiple wins, scoring Artist of the Year and Best Pop Video for “Peaches” along with Daniel Caesar and Giveon. Lil Nas X’s “Montero” also won for Best Director and Visual Effects.
Justin Bieber and Megan Thee Stallion dominated the nomination field with 7 and 6 noms each, while Justin bagged multiple awards Megan left empty handed.
The performers list included host Doja Cat, as well as Alicia Keys and Swae Lee, Camila Cabello, Chlöe, Ed Sheeran, The Kid Leroi (with Bieber) Kacey Musgraves, Jack Harlow (with Lil Nas X), Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker, Shawn Mendes and Tainy, Twenty One Pilots, Normani and Ozuna along with big winners Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X and Olivia Rodrigo.
Billie Eilish presented VMA Global Icon Award, scored by Foo Fighters. Billie also won Video for Good trophy for “Your Power.”
Here’s the full list of tonight’s winners:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
Def Jam
SONG OF THE YEAR
Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license”
Geffen Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
Olivia Rodrigo
Geffen Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
BEST POP
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – “Peaches”
Def Jam
BEST HIP-HOP
Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A. – “Franchise”
Cactus Jack / Epic Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear – “my ex’s best friend”
Bad Boy / Interscope Records
BEST K-POP
BTS – “Butter”
BIGHIT MUSIC
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Billie Eilish – “Your Power”
Darkroom / Interscope Records
PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Olivia Rodrigo
May 2021: “drivers license”
BEST ROCK
John Mayer – “Last Train Home”
Columbia Records
BEST LATIN
Billie Eilish & ROSALÍA – “Lo Vas A Olvidar”
Darkroom / Interscope Records
BEST R&B
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records
BEST DIRECTION
Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records – Directed by: Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Harry Styles – “Treat People With Kindness”
Columbia Records – Choreography by: Paul Roberts
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid – “BROWN SKIN GIRL”
Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records – Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, MOHAMMAED ATTA AHMED, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant
BEST ART DIRECTION
Saweetie ft. Doja Cat – “Best Friend”
Warner Records – Art Direction by: Alec Contestabile
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records – Visual Effects by: Mathematic
BEST EDITING
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Records – Editing by: Troy Charbonnet
GROUP OF THE YEAR: BTS
SONG OF THE SUMMER: BTS – “Butter” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Monsta X – “Gambler” – Starship Entertainment
