In the words of comedian Kevin Hart, the opening of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards “started a little weird.”
In anticipation of Lady Gaga’s debut attire, #whatwillgagawear was the top trending hashtag on Twitter during the pre-show and Mother Monster didn’t disappoint her little monsters.
Gaga took to the stage in her chain-smoking greaser alter ego Joe Calderone prompting laughter from the audience and uneasy looks from celebrities (Britney Spears’ face was priceless).
“I think it’s really great that she’s such a star…” she said in her on-stage monologue, acting as Gaga’s scorned lover. “Cause when she gets on that stage, she holds nothing back. That spotlight, that big round deep spotlight follows her wherever she goes.”
Lady Gaga went on to rock the house with her country-rock ballad stomper, “You and I” on the piano backed by a troupe of greaser back-up dancers and a surprise performance by Queen’s Brian May strumming on guitar.
Britney Spears took the first moon man of the night for her pop hit “Til the World Ends,” thanking God, family, and her two sons.
The rest of the awards ceremony was a jam-packed two-hour segment of the year’s billboard hits, music videos, and of course, celebs.
This year’s ceremony featured a debut performance by soul singer Adele, Nicki Minaj taking home Best Hip-Hop Video for “Super Bass” (her outfit was, in a word, indescribable… I will never understand that get-up), and British-born rapper Jessie J giving performances of her hits “Do It Like a Dude” and “Pricetag” from a white armchair on-stage (bummer about that leg cast).
Katy Perry made a dig at Kanye West while they accepted a Moon Man trophy for collaborating on “E.T,” referencing his now-infamous on-stage diss to Taylor Swift from the 2009 VMAs. “Now this is the time where you want to interrupt me, Kanye,” she teased.
MTV honored the Princess of Pop, Britney Spears, with a dance montage of her ultimate billboard hits from “Baby One More Time” and “Crazy” to “Toxic” and “Do Somethin’.”
Lady Gaga, who dedicated the montage called her “one of her biggest inspirations.”
“Britney taught me how to be fearless,” Gaga said. “She’s a pop music legend and the industry would not be the same without her.”
Even before the ceremony even started, Beyonce debuted a baby bump on the red carpet during the pre-show, announcing that she and rapper hubby Jay-Z are expecting their first child. She gave a powerful performance of the song “Love on Top” off her new album “4.”
Towards the end of the night, MTV gave a sentimental tribute to the late Amy Winehouse with a performance of “Valerie” by Bruno Mars.
Check out these photos, courtesy of MTV, from the red carpet to awards show.
Here is a list of the winners that were presented with awards live Sunday night:
Best Video with a Message
Lady Gaga, “Born this Way”
Best Pop Video
Britney Spears, “Til the World Ends”
Best Rock Video
Foo Fighters, “Walk”
Best Hip-Hop Video
Nicki Minaj, “Super Bass”
Best Collaboration
Katy Perry and Kanye West, “E.T”
Best Male Video
Justin Bieber, “U Smile”
Best New Artist
Tyler the Creator
Best Female Video
Lady Gaga, “Born this Way”
Video Vanguard
Britney Spears
Video of the Year
Katy Perry, “Firework”