Some were released decades after they were first written
In the wake of 9/11, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band united for a moving performance of 'The Rising.'
Over the course of nearly 41 years, MTV's Video Music Awards (VMAs) offer up some of the most controversial, memorable, and straight up scandalous moments in pop culture. From Lady Gaga's infamous meat dress to Beyoncé's pregnancy reveal, and Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, the VMAs has provided several unforgettable moments.
So ahead of its 2024 ceremony, airing on September 11, click on for a trip down memory lane.
Rihanna donned thigh-high boots and a mohawk to solidify her new 'Good Girl Gone Bad' attitude.
Eminem continued his one-sided feud with Moby at the 2002 VMAs, while also getting into a new beef with comedy writer Robert Smigel and his 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' character, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. The rapper shoved the puppet out of the way while he was conducting a pre-planned interview.
This was the moment when every 20-something girl returned to her teenage self.
Macy Gray offered a masterclass in marketing when she wore a dress that was emblazoned with the title and release date of her album. The back of her dress said, "Buy It!"
Elton John and Guns N' Roses rocked the VMA stage with their rendition of the band's song 'November Rain.'
Midway through his performance of 'Get Off,' Prince revealed that his yellow jumpsuit included a peekaboo rear.
After infamously interrupting Madonna's post-show interview with MTV VJ Kurt Loder, Courtney Love got dragged off the press room stage.
With a giant inflatable butt in the background and a bunch of twerking backup dancers, Lizzo's performance was all about self-acceptance and love.
Madonna celebrated the network's 40th anniversary with a surprise appearance at the 2021 ceremony, bringing VMA history full circle.
Sources: (Glamour) (Independent) (Entertainment Tonight)
Just a few months after Michael Jackson's death, Janet Jackson staged an emotional tribute to her brother, performing their duet 'Scream.'
Blue Ivy stole the show in 2014, as cameras caught her happily dancing along as her mom performed 'Flawless.' It all got even cuter when Jay-Z brought Blue on stage to present Beyoncé with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane, and Lauren Jauregui took the stage alongside a fifth woman who jumped off the stage as soon as the performance began, a nod to their former bandmate Camila Cabello, who had recently left the group.
Remember when a hundred Slim Shadys rushed the VMA stage? That's what happened during Eminem's performance of 'Real Slim Shady.'
Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married at the time, but their kiss on the VMA stage felt so awkward. The marriage lasted 18 months.
Popping out of a giant cake and rolling around the stage, Madonna's icon status was solidified when she performed her hit 'Like a Virgin' at the very first VMAs.
Spears has long been a memorable part of the VMAs, and this particular performance will forever live in our minds thanks to the seven-foot-long yellow python.
Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke gave fans an extremely provocative performance of Thicke's 'Blurred Lines.' The duo became one of the most popular couples Halloween costumes of the year.
Following his performance of 'What Do You Mean,' Justin Bieber had an emotional breakdown on stage as the crowd cheered for him. "I just wasn't expecting them to support me in the way that they did," Bieber told Jimmy Fallon of the moment, "Last time I was at an award show, I was booed."
At the 2011 VMAs, Beyoncé confirmed rumors of her pregnancy by revealing her baby bump at the end of her 'Love on Top' performance.
Another bold look, Lady Gaga appeared at the 2010 VMAs wearing an outfit entirely made from raw Argentinian beef. She later revealed that it was a nod to her speech against the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don’t Tell" ban on LGBT+ people serving in the US military. It included the line, "Equality is the prime rib of America."
In 2000, Rage Against the Machine's bassist Tim Commerford climbed atop the award show's set in protest of the rock band's category defeat to Limp Bizkit. This landed Commerford in jail that night, and the group split soon after.
The moment that spawned an ongoing feud between Kanye West and Taylor Swift happened right on the VMA stage.
While performing 'Oops I Did It Again,' Britney Spears ripped off a suit to reveal a bejeweled, naked-look outfit. Iconic.
Christina Aguilera made headlines for her barely-there outfit on the 2002 VMA red carpet. What we didn't know at the time was that she was releasing her next major studio album, 'Stripped,' and was using this event to launch her new alter ego, Xtina.
In 2003, Madonna, Spears, and Aguilera made headlines when they shared an on-stage kiss while performing Madonna's track 'Hollywood.'
In the days before the 2015 VMAs, host Miley Cyrus had given an interview in which she called Nicki Minaj "not very polite." Minaj responded on the VMA stage, calling out to Cyrus, "Miley, what's good?"
Meat dress and more! The most memorable moments in VMAs history
Who else remembers Lady Gaga's meat dress?
MUSIC Video music awards
Over the course of nearly 41 years, MTV's Video Music Awards (VMAs) have offered up some of the most controversial, memorable, and straight-up scandalous moments in pop culture. From Lady Gaga's infamous meat dress to Beyoncé's pregnancy reveal, and Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, the VMAs have seen many unforgettable moments.
Ahead of the 2024 ceremony on September 11, let's take a trip down memory lane. Click through the gallery to get started.