The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards went off without a hitch on Wednesday night, with artists including Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter descending on UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The show, hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, featured standout performances from LL Cool J, Eminem, Shawn Mendes, Katy Perry, Benson Boone, Anitta, Karol G, LL Cool J, Camila Cabello, Halsey and more.
Swift led the winners with a total of seven moonmen of her 12 nominations, including artist of the year and song of the summer. The night was notable as she bested Beyoncé’s record for most solo VMA wins, tapping out at 30 wins over Bey’s 26. (Beyoncé has an additional two with Destiny’s Child, as well as two with her husband Jay-Z as the Carters.) Swift also became the first artist to ever win video of the year five times.
Eminem, Tyla and Megan Thee Stallion tied for second-most wins with two moonmen apiece. Em took home best hip-hop and best visual effects for “Houdini,” while Meg won best art direction for “BOA” and best trending video for “Mamushi.” Tyla secured best new artist and best Afrobeats for “Water.”
The rest of the winners picked up one apiece, with victors including Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Benson Boone, SZA, Billie Eilish, Carpenter, Lisa and Seventeen, among others. Notably missing from the winner’s circle was Beyoncé, whose “Cowboy Carter” was recently shut out of the CMA Awards nominations.
Eminem opened the show with a self-referential rendition of “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me,” nodding to his 2000 VMAs performance by bringing out an army of lookalikes to join him on stage. Katy Perry gave an eye-popping performance of some of her biggest hits and newer songs as part of her Video Vanguard Award medley, while Camila Cabello ran through “Godspeed” in a selfie-style setup.
Sabrina Carpenter took it to outer space for her performance, a medley of songs from her latest album “Short n’ Sweet.” The singer descended from the rafters on a swing for “Please, Please, Please” before transitioning into “Taste,” dancing with an alien and astronaut behind her. A whole crew of astronauts took the stage as she segued into “Espresso,” dancing in unison as Carpenter sang her summer smash.
Chappell Roan invoked medieval times with her performance of “Good Luck Babe.” Dressed in armor and armed with a crossbow and pigtails, the singer led a coterie of male dancers set to the backdrop of a giant castle, full moon and tall gates that ignited with real fire at the beginning of the performance.
Source: https://variety.com/2024/awards/news/2024-vmas-winners-list-mtv-1236141425/