Benson Boone and Sabrina Carpenter Dazzle;Taylor Swift Takes Top Award
t he 2024 MTV Video Music Awards went beyond all lines as they unfolded the night of unforgettable performances and emotional moments, awakening the interest of viewers again in award shows. It was also held live from UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, to honor the best music stars. Some of the most special highlights from that night are as follows:
Performance of the Night: Benson Boone Steals the Show Of course, performances always become the thing with MTV's Video Music Awards. And Benson Boone lived up to expectations this year with the most electric performance of the night:. Starting off with the chart-topper "Beautiful Things," Boone showed himself to have an enviable vocal range and presence as he emerged in a dazzling navy outfit covered in sequins. A piano introduction led into soulful tones by the time he ascended to take center stage, as his powerful vocals soared through the whole audience, with Sabrina Carpenter and others singing along to his pop-rock sensation. His stage flips even had fans joking he should try out for the 2028 Olympics! Boone took home the Best Alternative award, which sealed in his status as a rising star.
Sabrina Carpenter soars at the VMAs Carpenter lit up the VMAs stage with an enchanting and playful set. Starting the performance suspended on a swing high above the crowd, Carpenter opened with a gentle rendition of "Please Please Please" before she shifted into the dance-heavy "Taste." She strolled out in an alien costume and had the dancers inside dressed up as astronauts. It was quite the otherworldly vibe they were going for. Her close would be "Espresso," Carpenter's chart-topper, which would leave the audience clamoring for more. It wasn't hard to see why she's picked up the moniker of pop's newest princess.
Taylor Swift extended her stay at the VMAs by taking seven Moonperson awards from the ceremony, including the top honor Video of the Year for her smash "Fortnight." Swift, who directed the music video, enthused about her experience working on the film, thanking her boyfriend, Travis, who "spent a lot of time" on location, supporting his girlfriend. She used an acceptance speech to gush that "everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic," attributing to Travis making the shoot a memorable experience.
Swift also used the spotlight to encourage fans to register to vote. Speaking on behalf of Kamala Harris recently, Swift asked the crowd "If you are over 18, please register to vote for something else that's very important." Earlier in the evening, she honored the victims of 9/11, sharing heartfelt thoughts about tragedy on the 23rd anniversary of those attacks.
Newcomer Chappell Roan stole the spotlight while delivering an emotional message for Best New Artist acceptance. "I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, and to queer and trans people who fuel pop culture," Chappell Roan said. She spoke directly to queer youth from the Midwest, saying, "I see you, I understand you, because I'm one of you. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't be exactly who you want to be."
Tyla, who took Best Afrobeats for "Water," came in with inspiring words, reminding the audience that African music cannot be put into a single genre and that it is all so diverse. She kept praising Afrobeats for opening the doors but made sure people recognize that African music is not only Afrobeats.
Katy Perry's jaw-dropping performance as she accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award was probably one of the most iconic moments of the night. Perry floated above the stage, singing a medley of her biggest hits - "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," and "Firework" as well as new songs from her new album 143. Stunning set with magic-like stunts, the crowd stood amazed. Just after Perry finished her 10-song medley, she quipped, "I did that all on my first day of my period. Can you believe it?"
Orlando Bloom, her longtime boyfriend, handed her the award and the two shared a lovely kiss on stage. In her acceptance speech, Perry reflected, "There are no decade-long accidents," and thanked MTV for believing in her creative vision from the start.
Megan Thee Stallion dominated the VMAs in every which way—she hosted, she performed and took home Best Art Direction for her music video "BOA." Megan kicked off the show in a custom VMA bodysuit, calling it the "Voluptuous Megan Award" to the crowd's delight. She sported multiple costume changes throughout the night but, arguably, one of the standout moments came when she dressed up as Britney Spears and brought out an albino python as a nod to Spears' famous 2001 VMAs performance.
"Come get this snake," she joked, as the handlers removed the creature. Megan was a showstopper, of course; her own hits "Hiss" and "Mamushi" she performed amid calling commanding the whole arena; she even hauled out Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba for a dynamic collaboration that showcased her global appeal. A, no doubt, superstar in every sense.
By these solo performances and heartfelt speeches, the 2024 VMAs reminded the viewers why music award shows are still not a missed spectacle.
