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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, 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
LOS ANGELES — The MTV Video Music Awards made their West Coast return Sunday.