- (upbeat music)
- [Kelly] Lady Gaga and
Ariana set the stage on fire.
BTS brings the moves.
The Weeknd blinds everyone
high above New York city.
And Miley's got a new wrecking ball.
The VMAs is where the quarantine
escape, we all needed.
The Rona didn't stop MTV
as host Keke Palmer kicked off
the show from the Epic New York city set.
She also began by dedicating the show
to the late Chadwick Boseman.
- We dedicate tonight's show
to a man who's spirit touched so many.
- [Kelly] The Weeknd kicked
things off with blinding lights,
literally, as he performed his hit single
a thousand feet above New York,
surrounded by the skylines, strobes
and even fireworks.
(upbeat music)
♪ I'm blinded by the lights ♪
- [Kelly] And later won
best R&B for the song
with an emotional message.
- It's getting hard to celebrate.
So I'm gonna say justice for Jacob Blake
and justice for Brianna Taylor.
Thank you.
- [Kelly] After news that J Balvin
and Roddy Ricch pulled
out of the award show,
MTV announced DaBaby would instead take
the stage for the first time ever.
His performances of late have
been social justice motivated.
And the police imagery combined
with a city on fire was a
huge nod to the movement.
♪ I got a big drum, it hold a hundred ♪
♪ ain't goin' for nothing ♪
♪ I'm ready to air it out
on all these niggas, ♪
♪ I can see them running ♪
- [Kelly] Gaga's mask games,
slayed as she took home several awards.
She and Ariana took
home best collaboration
and song of the year for, "Rain on me."
And she also took home best artist.
- Thank you MTV,
thank you fans,
I love you you're the best.
- [Kelly] She took the
stage later in the night
to perform the hit song with all the mask,
those chromatic outfits
and the iconic choreo.
♪ I'll never be troubled ♪
♪ In this time of life ♪
- [Kelly] And of course she
gave us her stupid love.
♪ I want your stupid love ♪
- [Kelly] She also took to the stage
to accept the show's first
ever MTV Tricon award
for her unparalleled impact
and dedication to music,
fashion, and activism.
And again, we loved all her mask.
All of them.
Every one of them.
That one too.
- But wear a mask.
It's a sign of respect.
Thank you.
- Mother monster knows
how to make a good point.
Miley Cyrus made her
debut of, "Midnight sky"
with an Epic seventies feel,
complete with a disco wrecking ball.
A definite upgrade.
♪ That I was born to run ♪
♪ I don't belong to anyone ♪
♪ Oh no ♪
- And spicing up the night,
Maluma brought the heat
in a yellow suit at the drive in,
(Maluma singing in a foreign language)
- I would have appreciated that address.
He then won best latin
and did his acceptance speech
in Spanish to show the love.
The boys of BTS made their VMA debut.
♪ Light it up like dynamite ♪` ♪
- [Kelly] Bringing hot moves,
fireworks, and winning best pop
and best K-pop,
best choreography and
best group for the army.
PUSH artist, Doja Cat
brought all the vibes
with long green hair
and an out of this world rendition
of her number one billboard hit, "Say so."
♪ Didn't even notice ♪
♪ No punches left to roll ♪
- [Kelly] And boy, do I
love the Black Eyed Peas.
They got the internet
talking for wearing pants,
lighting up in an interesting location
and closing the show
with, "I gotta feeling."
♪ that tonight's gonna be a good night ♪
- That tonight's gonna be a good,
good night.
What a time from right here at home.
To check the fullest of
winners like Taylor Swift's win
for best director, head
over to billboard.com,
running it down for you always
I'm Tetris Kelly for billboard news.
