Chappell Roan won the MTV Video Music Award for best new artist.
“I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me," she said in her speech, while wearing chain mail, reading from a written speech in her diary. “And I dedicate this to queer and trans people who run pop. ... Thank you for listening.”
Women dominated the award show, no example greater than an imaginative, medieval set from Roan.
Drag queen Sasha Colby introduced her with “your favorite drag queen’s favorite artist,” a reference to Roan’s now famous Coachella performance, which in turn was inspired by Colby. Real fans no doubt got a kick out of the hyper-referential tidbit.
Roan appeared in armor, shooting a lit crossbow at castle gates that stood behind her, burning them in the process. Her dancers were knights, battling each other in incredible choreography as she sang her queer pop hit, “Good Luck, Babe.”
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
It was a big night for women in pop: Sabrina Carpenter won the trophy for song of the year for “Espresso.”
“This is really special,” she said in her speech, dedicated to her fans. “And thank you to that me-espresso.”
Earlier in the night, she brought her summery-pop to the award show, powering through her hit singles “Please Please Please,” “Taste” and “Espresso” while dancing with a moon man and an alien.
Taylor Swift and Post Malone took home the first televised award of the VMAs for best collaboration, handed to them by Flavor Flav and Olympian Jordan Chiles.
Swift started her speech by giving remembrance to everyone who lost their lives and loved ones during 9/11, 23 years ago, before discussing Malone.
“There is a reason Post Malone is everyone in music's favorite person to collaborate with,” she shifted her attention to him. “It has taken forever for me to get him to stop calling me ma'am.”
Tyla won the best Afrobeats award.
Katy Perry received the Video Vanguard Award, performing an eight-song medley spanning her career: “Roar,” “E.T.,” “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “I Kissed a Girl,” “Firework,” “Lifetimes."
“I did that all on the first day of my period, can you believe it?” she joked after accepting the honor from her partner, Orlando Bloom. “There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decade long accidents.”
She also teased a new song, “I’m His, He’s Mine,” featuring Doechii, which samples the Crystal Waters classic, “Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da).”
Previous recipients of the Video Vanguard Award include Shakira, Beyoncé, Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Missy Elliott.
An army of Slim Shady-lookalikes followed Eminem as he kicked off the VMAs , launching into a medley of his hits “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me,” featuring a broadcast feed of Jelly Roll. (The song references Jelly Roll’s massive country radio hit, “Save Me.”)
Megan Thee Stallion welcomed the crowd as a first-time host Wednesday night, who joked that the VMAs now stands for the “voluptuous Megan awards.” She later performed.
Earlier in the evening, Karol G took over, for a fiery performance of her hit, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido.” Rauw Alejandro brought Puerto Rico to the stage, running through “Touching The Sky,” “DILUIVO” and “Déjame Entrar.”
Halsey took it to the suburbs for her new single, “Ego," channeling garage bands. GloRilla's “Yeah Glo!” and “TGIF” brought style.
Blackpink’s LISA, the best K-pop award winner, made her way to the VMA stage for the first time as a soloist, powering through two of her brand-new singles, “New Woman” and “Rockstar.” Shawn Mendes made along-awaited return, debuting a new John Mayer-esq. acoustic number, “Nobody Knows.”
Anitta performed “Paradise,” “Alegria,” and “Savage Funk,” joined by DJ Khaled, Fat Joe and Tiago PZK. Camilla Cabello performed in a panopticon. Benson Boone seemed as stoked as ever to perform his viral hit “Beautiful Things” on the VMAs stage. Lenny Kravitz proved rock isn't dead with “Are You Gonna Go My Way," “Human” and finally “Fly," in which he was joined by Quavo.
The 40th VMAs are being held at the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island.
The night is stacked celebrities and featured plenty of Swift, who arrived at the award show wearing a green tartan corset with a matching train and long black leather gloves.
The pop star led the nominations with 12 — eight for her “Fortnight” music video, two social categories and nods in the best pop and artist of the year categories. She’s followed by her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone, who has 11. He is nominated along with Swift 10 times and earned his 11th nom for his country hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen.
Winning would give Swift a prominent stage to voice support for Kamala Harris' presidential bid. Swift endorsed the vice president Tuesday night, moments after Harris' debate with former president Donald Trump ended.
Shaboozey reacted to her endorsement on the VMAs red carpet, telling The Associated Press, “I think you just do you, you know? Do what you’re feel in your heart. Just be honest with yourself,” he said. "Just walking your truth, you know.”
If prior years are any indication, Swift may make multiple speeches.
She took home nine VMAs last year, bringing her total to an impressive 23. That places her just behind Beyoncé, who has 30 and just ahead of Madonna, who has 20 awards. Lady Gaga, has 19.
Seven Swift wins would tie Beyoncé’s record, and if she wins eight, she could become the most awarded musician in VMA history.
That is, if Beyoncé doesn't take home any of her own trophies. She's up for song of the year ("Texas Hold 'Em") and two social categories.
Throughout the night, MTV flashed back to history-making across the VMAs’ 40-year-run, including Britney Spears’ albino python and Madonna’s performance of “Like A Virgin.”
The VMAs are airing on MTV and simulcast on BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, VH1, and in Spanish on Univision.
