The 2019 MTV Video Music Awards kicked off with an electric performance by Taylor Swift, singing her new songs You Need to Calm Down and Lover, but it was Cardi B who took home the first moon man of the night for Best Hip Hop video.
The 26- year old singer won the VMA award for the hit song Money, presented by Rick Ross and Pepa from Salt n Pepa.
The rapper beat out Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Cardi B, 2 Chainz, DJ Khaled for the first award of the night, thanking her crew and the director, Jora Frantzis for her work on the video.
First win: The 2019 MTV Video Music Awards kicked off with an electric performance by Taylor Swift, singing her new songs You Need to Calm Down and Lover, but it was Cardi B who took home the first moon man of the night for Best Hip Hop video
First win: The 26- year old singer won the VMA award for the hit song Money, presented by Rick Ross and Pepa from Salt n Pepa
First winner: The rapper beat out Travis Scott , 21 Savage, Cardi B, 2 Chainz, DJ Khaled for the first award of the night, thanking her crew and the director, Jora Frantzis for her work on the video
‘Hold on, wait a minute. This is a video music award, I really want to thank my music video team, the director and everything,’ she said. ‘She has to hear my mouth and in my stomach and in my butt. And I want to thank my dance team. Thank you so much. Thank you everybody.’
After an electric performance by Shawn Mendes of his hit song If I Can’t Have You, Alison Brie and French Montana presented the Best Latin award, which was won by Rosalia & J Balvin ft. El Guincho for their hit song Con Altura.
They beat out Anuel AA, Karol G (Secreto), Bad Bunny ft. Drake (MIA), Benny blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin (I Can’t Get Enough), Daddy Yankee ft. Snow (Con Calma) and Maluma (Mala Mía).
Thanks: ‘Hold on, wait a minute. This is a video music award, I really want to thank my music video team, the director and everything,’ she said, adding, ‘She has to hear my mouth and in my stomach and in my butt
Rosalia said it’s an ‘incredible honor’ to be at the VMAs and letting her perform, particularly to perform in Spanish.
J Balvin added that he’s, ‘super proud to be Latino’ before adding a passionate plea to help the Amazon rainforest fire.
‘We need to help because it’s burning on fire. So we need to help the jungle. Thank you,’ he said.
Lizzo then took to the stage to perform a medley of her hit songs Truth Hurts and Good As Hell.
Truth hurts: Lizzo then took to the stage to perform a medley of her hit songs Truth Hurts and Good As Hell
After an medley of Jonas Brothers songs, broadcast live from the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Billy Ray Cyrus took to the stage to introduce the record-shattering artist Lil Nas X, making his VMA debut by singing his new song Panini.
Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye presented the award for Video For Good, which was won by Taylor Swift for You Need to Calm Down.
The 29 year old singer beat out Halsey (Nightmare), The Killers (Land of the Free), Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey ft. Gallant (Runaway Train), John Legend (Preach) and Lil Dicky (Earth).
When she took to the stage, though, Swift deferred her speech to Todrick Hall, who executive produced the song and appeared in the video, who gave a heartfelt speech.
‘Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much. I grew up in a small town and my entire life all I wanted in the entire world was to be Ariel from The Little Mermaid,’ Hall began.
‘I put a red towel on my leg and tied my legs together and jumped in a pool and after that people told me the things I cannot do and can’t accomplish in the world,’ Hall added.
‘Now, I’m so grateful to be in a world where this is what we need to be doing. If you are a young child watching this show who feels misunderstood and you never need it more than now to share your art no matter what you identify as, who you identify as, who you love,’ Hall concluded.
Missy Elliot took to the stage to perform a medley of hits like Throw It Back, The Rain, Get Your Freak On, Reverse It, Pass That Dutch, Lose Control, while the stage incorporated elements of her iconic music videos for each song.
It’s been host to some of pop culture’s most outrageous moments since it started in 1984.
And the 2019 MTV VMAs are sure to be full of surprises when held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Monday August 26.
Chart-topping songbird Taylor Swift will have the honor of opening the show in what is sure to be a knockout performance.
The You Need To Calm Down singer, 29, can also boast having the most nominations at the show, tying Ariana Grande with 10 nods. The pop princesses will face off in both the Video Of The Year and Song Of The Year categories.
Taylor: Chart-topping songbird Taylor Swift will have the honor of opening the show in what is sure to be a knockout performance
Coming in close second with nine noms is Billie Eilish, with Lil Nas X following closely behind with an impressive eight.
Rapper/producer extraordinaire Missy Elliott will be honored with the 2019 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard. The Get Ur Freak On rapper will also perform.
Fashion designer Marc Jacobs will receive the very first MTV Fashion Trailblazer Award.
Trailblazer: Fashion designer Marc Jacobs will receive the very first MTV Fashion Trailblazer Award
This year will also included two new categories: Best K-Pop and Video For Good.
Viewers will get to see the electric chemistry between Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, who will be performing their track Señorita live for the first time.
The song is also up for four awards, including Best Collaboration.
First time: Viewers will get to see the electric chemistry between Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, who will be performing their track Señorita live for the first time
The Jonas Brothers will surprise audiences as they perform from a ‘secret location.’
Lady Gaga will play her A Star Is Born ballad Always Remember You This Way.
Artists Bad Bunny, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Rosalía, J Balvin, Ozuna, H.E.R., Big Sean, and ASAP Ferg will also perform.
The VMAs are being hosted by comedian/actor/author Sebastian Maniscalco. The pre-show festivities will be Terrence J, Nessa and Zara Larsson.
Host: The VMAs are being hosted by comedian/actor/author Sebastian Maniscalco
Stars of The Sopranos Drea De Matteo, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Vincent Pastore will be on hand to present.
Previously announced presenters include Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger & Ashlyn Harris of US Women’s National Soccer Team, Ice-T, John Travolta, Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye, Rick Ross, Salt-N-Pepa and more.
The 36th annual MTV Video Music Awards will kick off red carpet pre-show fun at EST. The main show will commence at 8pm ET/PT.