MTV VMAs 2021 live: Awards, performances and wildest moments

Music’s craziest award show hosted its fair share of show-stopping moments – but trust an age-defying Madonna to steal the spotlight in a truly wild outfit.

This year’s MTV Video Music Awards has officially wrapped at New York’s Barclays Centre.

First things first, it was all about the red carpet (where Megan Fox wore potentially the most revealing outfit in event show history).

As formalities got underway inside the arena, an age-defying Madonna kicked off the show in one of her signature raunchy outfits - a tight leather leotard - as she detailed her love affair with New York which began at the age of 19 “when I arrived with $35 in my pocket”.

Madonna kicked off the VMAs. Picture: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Madonna is 63... Just let that sink in.

The 63-year-old also took to Instagram to give fans an up-close look of her fabulous outfit, including a peculiar shot of herself hovering over a urinal as she celebrated four decades in the spotlight. “And they said I wouldn’t last,” she wrote.

Madonna's racy MTV VMAs outfit.

This is... interesting.

One of the highlights of the performance-heavy awards show proved to be US singer Normani, who triggered a wave of social media commentary after singing her new single, Wild Side.

The 25-year-old, who shot to fame in the band Fifth Harmony before going solo, finished her performance by grinding on singer and dancer, Teyana Taylor.

Normani performs onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. Picture: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images/AFP

The moment sparked widespread speculation Normani was trying to tell us all something.

WAIT IS THIS NORMANI COMING OUT?

— dasia 💗 BOYY OH KILLIN ME SOFTLYYYY (@sirencentury) September 13, 2021

No joke I thought that was normani’s coming out reveal

— 𓆩♥︎𓆪 Mrs. Joestar 𓆩♥︎𓆪 (@CHELSOFARC) September 13, 2021

Ok, what's Normani doing with this girl on th cross? Is this her coming out moment?

— Katie Depperschmidt (@TheRealKDeppz) September 13, 2021

Elsewhere, a very Oprah-esque Billy Porter introduced Lil Nas X to the stage, but not before giving an inspired spiel about the changing face of the industry.

“When I was first coming up in this industry let me say, that the people were not ready for all this black boy joy,” Porter said, clad in top-to-toe gold.

“But children, it’s a new day and I am so thankful to have lived long enough to witness it.”

Lil Nas took the introduction and ran with it, with a re-creation of the X-rated music video for his song, Industry Baby, alongside Jack Harlow.

The music video - released in July - imagines a world where Lil Nas is sent to jail over the furore surrounding one of his songs – and features a (censored) nude prison block shower scene.

And we got to witness this in all its live-action glory.

Lil Nas X performs Industry Baby.

Get it.

It’s safe to say the fans were here for it:

Lil Nas X did what needed to be done with the shower choreography! #VMAspic.twitter.com/FWFPVCaTxl

— M. L. (@untrell92) September 13, 2021

Billie Eilish’s live reaction at Lil Nas X’s performance at the #VMAspic.twitter.com/MVZlFwonc6

— major 🍵 9•17 (@lilnasxmajor) September 13, 2021

It’s actually a good thing I didn’t go to the #VMAs because I can’t promise that you wouldn’t see me on TMZ tomorrow morning leaving Lil Nas X’s hotel…

— Kalen Allen (@TheKalenAllen) September 13, 2021

Lil Nas X popping that booty in the prison shower on the VMA stage. So proud of him. #VMAspic.twitter.com/gxK6bI5ZEl

— ClockOutWars (@clockoutwars) September 13, 2021

One of the biggest gongs of the night - Artist of the Year - was presented to Bieber, who eclipsed a strong field including Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift.

He really dressed up for the occasion.

Justin Bieber accepted Artist of the Year.

Meanwhile, the top honour - Video of the Year - went to Lil Nas X for Montero (Call Me By Your Name), whileSong of the Year was awarded to Drivers License by pop star of the moment, Olivia Rodrigo.

Billie Eilish was the first victim of the telecast ‘bleep’ after dropping the F-bomb in her speech after winning Video for Good for Your Power.

“I wanted to write this song for a really long time, and I finally did, and it was empowering, freeing and really f**king sad,” she said.

“I just want to say we need to protect our young women at all costs, and we need to remember we all have power and to not abuse it.”

Rock legends Foo Fighters picked up the first-ever MTV Global Icon Award, belting out a medley of their biggest hits.

Dave Grohl fronts the Foo Fighters, the recipients of the Global Icon award.

MTV VMAs winners list:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Winner: Lil Nas X – MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – WAP

DJ Khaled ft. Drake – POPSTAR

Doja Cat ft. SZA – Kiss Me More

Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits

The Weeknd – Save Your Tears

BEST NEW ARTIST

Winner: Olivia Rodrigo

24kGoldn

Giveon

The Kid LAROI

Polo G

Saweetie

BEST COLLABORATION

Winner: Doja Cat ft. SZA – Kiss Me More

24kGoldn ft. iann dior – Mood

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – WAP

Drake ft. Lil Durk – Laugh Now Cry Later

Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – Peaches

Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa – Prisoner

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: Justin Bieber

Ariana Grande

Doja Cat

Megan Thee Stallion

Olivia Rodrigo

Taylor Swift

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Winner: Billie Eilish – Your Power

Demi Lovato – Dancing With The Devil

H.E.R. – Fight For You

Kane Brown – Worldwide Beautiful

Lil Nas X – MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)

Pharrell Williams ft. JAY-Z – Entrepreneur

BEST POP

Winner: Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – Peaches – Def Jam

Ariana Grande – positions

Billie Eilish – Therefore I Am

BTS – Butter

Harry Styles – Treat People With Kindness

Olivia Rodrigo – good 4 u

Shawn Mendes – Wonder

Taylor Swift – willow

SONG OF THE YEAR

Winner: Olivia Rodrigo – drivers license

24kGoldn ft. iann dior – Mood

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – Leave The Door Open

BTS – Dynamite

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – WAP

Dua Lipa – Levitating

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Winner: BTS

Blackpink

CNCO

Foo Fighters

Jonas Brothers

Maroon 5

Silk Sonic

Twenty One Pilots

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Winner: Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear – my ex’s best friend

Bleachers – Stop Making This Hurt

Glass Animals – Heat Waves

Imagine Dragons – Follow You

twenty one pilots – Shy Away

WILLOW ft. Travis Barker – t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l

Bieber (7) and Megan Thee Stallion (6) led this year’s nominations, closely followed by Eilish, BTS, Doja Cat, Drake, Giveon, Lil Nas X and Rodrigo, who all had five each.

The VMAs took place at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York, with a host of star-studded performances including Doja Cat, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Machine Gun Kelly and Kacey Musgraves.

In case you missed out on all the action live, the show is now available to stream on Foxtel On Demand.