Sabrina Carpenter had the biggest upset of the night as she defeated her mentor Taylor Swift.
The 25-year-old hitmaker earned the coveted Song Of The Year Moon Person over the pop megastar for her smash hit Espresso.
Sabrina was taken aback as she began her speech saying: ‘Oh! Well, well, well, hi! I’ve literally never won one of these, this is really special. The first people who won are the fans.
‘If you clap after everything I say, they’re going to call me off the stage so once I can but I just want to say, you guys are the reason I get to do what I love. But also the reason we could have so much fun and share music with each other. I just feel so grateful, you’re the best of all of us, it’s so cheesy, but I love you.’
The artist – who performed her three hit songs earlier in the evening – finished off her speech by addressing her gratitude.
Sabrina Carpenter had the biggest upset of the night as she defeated her mentor Taylor Swift
She concluded: ‘Thank you, thank you to my managers, thank you to my family, my cats and dogs at home watching, and thank you to the people who made Espresso with me. I love making music with you and I can’t wait to share more music with you. And thank you.’
Taylor was nominated for her song Fortnite which was a collaboration with Post Malone.
Earlier in the night Taylor was the first artist to take home the coveted Moon Person.
The 34-year-old megastar star earned the win in the Best Collab category alongside Post Malone at the MTV VMAs 2024 on Wednesday night.
Taylor and the 29-year-old rapper earned the major win for their music video for hit single Fortnight.
As the award show landed on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Taylor did not forget to recognize that dark day when she began her acceptance speech
She said: ‘You guys, I wanted to say waking up this morning in New York on September 11th, I’ve been thinking about what happened 23 years ago.
The 25-year-old hitmaker earned the coveted Song Of The Year Moon Person over the pop megastar for her smash hit Espresso
Taylor Swift was the first artist to take home the coveted Moonperson
The 34-year-old megastar star earned the win in the Best Collab category alongside Post Malone at the MTV VMAs 2024 on Wednesday night
‘Everyone who lost a loved one, everyone that we lost, and that’s the most important thing about today. And everything that happens tonight.’
Taylor went on to thank her collaboration partner as she praised him for his professionalism and kind heartedness.
She explained: ‘But it’s so amazing to have the opportunity to thank and honor the people who work so hard with me on this video. There is a very clear reason why post Malone is everyone in music’s favorite person to collaborate with.
‘And it is because you are so ridiculously talented, you are so versatile, and you are the most down-to-earth person. It honestly, so unfailingly polite, it has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ma’am. Do you want to say something?’
Post then took over as he continued: ‘Absolutely lost for words, one of the most kind and talented people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Just the amount of work and care and love she puts into everything she does for the music video — I watched her tied up to like the operating table thing in the music video and she was just directing the music video from there.
‘It was pretty bada**. But I just wanted to say thank you so very much for listening at thank you so very much, Taylor, and I love you very much.’
Another one of the biggest awards of the night came with this year’s recipient of the legendary Video Vanguard Award in Katy Perry.
The 39-year-old singer – born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson – was presented the honor by fiance Orlando Bloom as she planted a massive kiss on him.
Taylor and the 29-year-old rapper earned the major win for their music video for hit single Fortnight
She said: ‘You guys, I wanted to say waking up this morning in New York on September 11th , I’ve been thinking about what happened 23 years ago. Everyone who lost a loved one, everyone that we lost, and that’s the most important thing about today. And everything that happens tonight’
Taylor went on to thank her collaboration partner as she praised him for his professionalism and kind heartedness
She began her acceptance speech by saying: ‘Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one, and for being such a pivotal teacher to so many generations that an artist’s there are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decades-long accidents.’
Katy went on to acknowledge her team including record label Capitol Records and her management team.
She continued: ‘Trust me, it takes a village of strong people, a lot of healthy discourse, and a lot of group chats. My parents and my family, who are an endless source of support and the deepest roots I know. We don’t always agree, but what a lesson that those disagreements can still be full of love.
‘Thank you to MySpace, Warped Tour, and all the bygone places where I found a voice identity, and community so early on. Thank you to my friends who go when my Jetta was repossessed, my Katycats who do, too, and my LGBTQ community, who I recognize I would not be here without, who showed me that you can be both kind and snatched.’
She then went on to reference her latest racy interview which made waves last week as she thanked her longtime partner.
Katy said: ‘Thank you to Orlando for keeping me grounded and doing the dishes, and lastly my Daisy the only flowers I’ll ever need. I feel really excited when I look around music today and see all the amazing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency vulnerability, and authenticity.
‘I’ve heard a lot of do this, don’t say that, where this, don’t cut your hair. One of the biggest reasons I’m standing here right now is because I learned how to block out all of the noise, that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women.’
She concluded the speech with a touching and inspiring message to her fans and viewers as a whole.
Post then took over as he continued: ‘Absolutely lost for words, one of the most kind and talented people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Just the amount of work and care and love she puts into everything she does for the music video — I watched her tied up to like the operating table thing in the music video and she was just directing the music video from there’
He concluded: ‘It was pretty bada**. But I just wanted to say thank you so very much for listening at thank you so very much, Taylor, and I love you very much’
Katy finished by saying: ‘I want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art. Turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass. And do what you were born to do just like I was born to do this! 143 comes out September 20th, I love you!’
Past winners of the Video Vanguard Award include David Bowie, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Pink.
Before her acceptance speech, she performed several of her megahit songs for a medley which began with Dark Horse and ET as she did so while hung up by wires and performing some impressive aerial acrobatics.
She was then joined by rapper Doechii for new song I’m His, He’s Mine before jumping into chart-topping 2010 songs California Gurls and Teenage Dream.
Then she donned a pair of epic metallic wings as she performed the song which put her on the map in 2008 titled I Kissed A Girl before breaking out into beloved anthem song Firework.
Katy then finished off her epic performance with newer track Lifetimes.
Before the event Bruce Gillmer, chief content officer of music at Paramount+ and president of music, music talent, programming and events at Paramount in a statement about the move: ‘Katy is a musical powerhouse and true pop culture icon.
‘With her game changing creative vision, she has become a global phenomenon and taken over the world’s biggest stages.’
Another one of the biggest awards of the night came with this year’s recipient of the legendary Video Vanguard Award in Katy Perry
The 39-year-old singer – born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson – was presented the honor by fiance Orlando Bloom as she planted a massive kiss on him
She began her acceptance speech by saying: ‘Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one, and for being such a pivotal teacher to so many generations that an artist’s there are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decades-long accidents’
She continued: ‘Trust me, it takes a village of strong people, a lot of healthy discourse, and a lot of group chats. My parents and my family, who are an endless source of support and the deepest roots I know. We don’t always agree, but what a lesson that those disagreements can still be full of love’
She concluded the speech with a touching and inspiring message to her fans as she said: ”I want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art. Turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass. And do what you were born to do just like I was born to do this! 143 comes out September 20th, I love you!’
She waved to her adoring fans while walking off stage with Orlando
The award comes as Perry prepares to release her upcoming seventh studio album 143 on September 20.
Her comeback single from the album, Woman’s World, flopped in the charts following its release over the summer.
Eminem opened up the evening’s festivities with a performance featuring hits Houdini and Somebody Save Me.
Music’s biggest stars are back for another night of celebration at MTV’s legendary Video Music Awards.
This year’s festivities will be hosted by rapper Megan Thee Stallion and will be held at the UBS Arena in Long Island on September 11.
Stallion, 29, is herself nominated for five awards, including best collaboration and best hip-hop. She previously won best power anthem for Hot Girl Summer.
The evening will be a who’s who of music superstars with Sabrina Carpenter, Katy Perry, Camila Cabello, GloRilla, Rauw Alejandro, Benson Boone, Halsey, LISA, Lenny Kravitz, Anitta, Karol G, LL Cool J, and Shawn Mendes all set to perform at the show.
The MTV VMAs will air live on 8pm ET/PT.
Before her acceptance speech, she performed several of her megahit songs for a medley which began with Dark Horse and ET
She was hung up by wires and performing some impressive aerial acrobatics
She even head-walked at one point
She was then joined by rapper Doechii for new song I’m His, He’s Mine
She then jumped into chart-topping 2010 songs California Gurls and Teenage Dream
Katy did not miss a beat
Then she donned a pair of epic metallic wings as she performed the song which put her on the map in 2008 titled I Kissed A Girl before breaking out into beloved anthem song Firework
Katy then finished off her epic performance with newer track Lifetimes
As for accolades, Taylor Swift is the most-nominated artist at the event with an impressive 10 nods to her name.
The hitmaker, 34, has the chance to make history as she could become the first artist to win Video Of The Year five times. She already holds the record for most Video of the Year victories with four trophies under her name.
Her collaboration with Post Malone, the track Fortnight, is up for Video of the Year.
Post Malone trails Taylor by just one nomination as he has earned nine total with most of them being from their collaboration.
The one nomination he received without Taylor’s assistance was for Best Collaboration for I Had Some Help, his track with Morgan Wallen.
Also up for six nominations are Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Eminem.
Like Megan Thee Stallion, SZA is up for five nominations.
Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo, Teddy Swims, and Blackpink member Lisa all tied with four nods each.
Finally Benson Boone, Anitta, Dua Lipa, Tyla, Bleachers, and GloRilla all have three nominations.
