Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran Big Winners At MTV Video Music Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

KENDRICK LAMAR stole the show with a literally fiery opening performance and Best Video Of The Year honors for "HUMBLE." The 34th Annual MTV VIDEO .MUSIC AWARDS took place tonight at the FABULOUS FORUM in LOS ANGELES with KATY PERRY hosting.

LAMAR, who took home a total of six MOON PERSONS, the new, gender-correct name, started the show with a dynamic performance of "D.N.A." and "HUMBLE," which had LORDE, among others, agog in the audience. Artist Of The Year winner ED SHEERAN proceeded to cool things down a bit with his hit, "Shape Of You," before being joined by surprise guest LIL UZI VERT for the chorus on the latter's "XO Llif3." 

The first award for the night -- for Best Pop Video -- went to FIFTH HARMONY f/GUCCI MANE for "Down," presented by PARIS JACKSON, who gave an impassioned anti-hate speech about the events in CHARLOTTESVILLE to add the first political note to the evening.

JULIA MICHAELS then took the stage for her big hit, "Issues," which was inexplicably cut off by a commercial break before the world premiere of TAYLOR SWIFT's video for "Look What You Made Me Do." which many are already comparing to BEYONCE's "Formation" and MICHAEL JACKSON's "Thriller." 

SHAWN MENDES was up next, with a spirited "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back," followed by LORDE in what appeared to be her prom dress with "Homemade Dynamite," though she seemed to be doing more dancing than actual singing as she was reportedly suffering from the flu., After that, ZEDD and ALESSIA CARA were presented their VMA for Best Dance Video for "Stay."

Then it was time for FIFTH HARMONY to take the stage with GUCCI MANE for "Angel" and their VMA-winning "Down," but not before "tossing" a "fifth" member off-stage, a not-so-subtle shade at their since-departed mate CAMILA CABELLO. 

Best Collaboration went to ZAYN MALIK and TAYLOR SWIFT for "I Don't Wanna Live Forever.," from the "Fifty Shaes Darker" soundtrack, before JARED LETO gave a poignant tribute to the memories of CHRIS CORNELL and CHESTER BENNINGTON, then played a clip of LINKIN PARK performing "The Catalyst," from the MTV EUROPE VMAs in MADRID in 2011.

KATY then brought on MILEY CYRUS. who belted out her new song, "Younger Now," while DEMI LOVATO appeared live from LAS VEGAS, singing her latest single, "Sorry Not Sorry."

KENDRICK LAMAR then took home his first VMA for the night for "HUMBLE" as Best Hip-Hop Video (he'd already won four other technical awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Direction, Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. , .

PINK then presented a medley of her greatest hits, starting with "Get The Party Started," "Raise Your Glass," "Fuckin' Perfect," "So What" and "Just Give Me A Reason" before ending with her latest, "What About Us." ELLEN DEGENERES then introduced her as the winner of the MICHAEL JACKSON VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD. PINK related a touching story about her advice to her young daughter who was being made fun of for looking like a boy. "Baby girl we don't change. We take gravel and a shell and make a pearl."

KYLE and LIL YACHTY  followed with 'ISpy." before ED SHEERAN was named Artist Of The Year.  ALESSIA CARA was up next with the inspirational "Scars To Your Beautiful."

KESHA introduced a performance by LOGIC of his suicide prevention song, "1-800-273-8255," featuring KHALID and ALESSIA CARA, following with an impassioned plea for understanding and compassion.

THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS, the night's only rock band to perform, leaned into a rousing version of their new single, "Walk On Water" and "Butterfly Effect."

SUSAN BRO, the mother of HEATHER HEYERS, the woman run over by a car at CHARLOTTESVILLE, appeared on-stage to announce a fund whe was starting in memory of her daughter. 

ROD STEWART and DNCE then proceded with their new version of "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy."

"Wonder Woman" star GAL GADOT closed the night by presenting the Best Video Of The Year award to KENDRICK LAMAR for "HUMBLE" before KATY PERRY and NICKI MINAJ ended the evening with "Swish Swish."

At the pre-show festivities, JACK ANTONOFF and THE BLEACHERS performed "Don't Take the Money," co-hosted by "The Breakfast Club"'s TERRENCE J. CHARLAMAGNE THE GOD, LIL YACHTY and MTV NEWS' GABY WILSON. A very salacious CARDI B, sang her smash hit, "Bodak Yellow," while Artist To Watch winner KHALID pitched in with a medley of "Location" and "Young Dumb & Broke."

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