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Taylor Swift set a new career record for MTV Video Music Awards wins on Sunday. The ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, and aired on CBS and MTV. Rapper Snoop Dogg hosted.
Swift, 36, had been level with Beyonce at 30 Moonman statuettes. She broke the tie by receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors for her work behind the camera on visual storytelling. The win comes months after her wedding to Travis Kelce.
Swift also won Video of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia," extending her record in that category. She previously won it for "Bad Blood," "You Need to Calm Down," "All Too Well: The Short Film", "Anti-Hero" and "Fortnight."
Swift said she wanted the video to look like one continuous shot and thanked choreographer Mandy Moore, editor Chancler Haynes and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto. She dedicated the award to country singer Dolly Parton. "Every single song she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid," Swift said.
She also premiered the video for her new single "Patient Zero," which stars actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. Swift did not win Artist of the Year.
Madonna, 68, opened the ceremony with her first VMAs performance since a 2003 medley in which she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She performed "Bring Your Love" with Sabrina Carpenter, then "Danceteria Afterhours" with Charli XCX on a set modeled on the restrooms of the New York nightclub that inspired the song.
Madonna and Carpenter later won Best Collaboration. Madonna also received Artist of the Year. She recalled that her manager scolded her backstage at the first MTV awards show after a performance mishap.
"My manager said my career was over," she said, adding that he was no longer her manager.
Chuck D of Public Enemy presented the Video Vanguard Award to Nirvana. Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear accepted it. The band is the first group to receive the honor in more than 20 years, according to the source file.
Novoselic credited the band's videos to the vision of frontman Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994 at age 27. "Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity," Novoselic said.
Kacey Musgraves performed Parton's "I Will Always Love You" in a tribute that aired onscreen. Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80. Parton wrote and first recorded the song in 1973, and it reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1974 and again in 1982.
A second tribute marked nearly 40 years since George Michael released the album "Faith". Sombr wore Michael's customized leather jacket from that era and performed "Faith" and "Father Figure." Raye sang "I Knew You Were Waiting," and Teddy Swims performed "Careless Whisper." Adam Lambert, who had not been announced beforehand, closed the segment with "Freedom '90."
Lisa of Blackpink won best pop for "Dream," featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. She later gave the first televised performance of her new single "SaWaDiKa," introduced by Tyla. The song is due on her EP "Press Play" in October.
Raye performed her hit "Where Is My Husband!" in her VMAs performance debut. Gener8ion and Yung Lean closed the night with "Storm," re-creating a viral video with choreography by Damien Jalet.
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