MTV Video Music Awards: Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande Take Home Video, Artist Of The Year Honors

Taylor Swift Rocks the House (Photo: Twitter)

This year's MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS got off to a rousing start at NEWARK, NJ's PRUDENTIAL CENTER, where the ceremony is being held for the first time, with TAYLOR SWIFT, resplendent in a gold bustier top and tight-fitting purple shorts, sang two songs from her chart-topping, record-busting new album "Lover," including her pro-LGBTQ anthem, "You Need to Calm Down" and the title track, for which she strapped on a guitar.  She later took home VIDEO OF THE YEAR for "Calm Down," while LIL NAS X and BILLY RAY CYRUS record-shattering smash, "Old Town Road" earned SONG OF THE YEAR honors.  Fellow top nominee ARIANA GRANDE earned ARTIST OF THE YEAR honors, with BILLIE EILISH edging LIZZO for BEST NEW ARTIST. KOREAN K-Pop sensations BTS won BEST GROUP.

SWIFT used the VIDEO OF THE YEAR honor to address the song's theme: "You voting for this video means that you want a world where we're all treated equally regardless of who we love, regardless of how we identify."

Rainbows embellished the stage during TAYLOR's performance, while TV viewers saw an "Equality Act" graphic on the screen, referring to the bill being championed by SWIFT, who was the most nominated artist at this year's VMAs with 10, along with ARIANA GRANDE. SWIFT's "You Need to Calm Down"  was up for both VIDEO and SONG OF THE YEAR, winning the former. This year's  ceremony marks the 10th anniversary of TAYLOR's on-stage rift with KANYE WEST, who famously interrupted her acceptance speech for BEST FEMALE VIDEO (for "You Belong With Me")  to say the award belonged to BEYONCE instead. 

First-time host, comedian/author/actor SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO got off some crowd-pleasing lines, including a nod to BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, "the one influencer NEW JERSEY has had for the past 40 years."

Following SWIFT to the stage was BEST NEW ARTIST nominee LIZZO with her smash, "Good As Hell," following a snippet of "Truth Hurts," as she told the crowd, "We deserve to feel good as hell." Performing before what appeared to be a giant butt, LIZZO proved her "girl of summer" designation was no lie.

Early winners included CARDI B, Best Hip-Hop Video for "Money" along with ROSALIA and J BALVIN who received LATIN honors for "Con Altura,", presented to them by FRENCH MONTANA, who brought some politics to the occasion. "I am so proud to pronounce this award because as an immigrant, I feel like we are the people that make this country and I feel like I wanna be the voice," he said. 

Other awards went to the JONAS BROTHERS' "Sucker" (BEST POP), BILLIE EILISH (PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR), BTS f/HALSEY, "Boy with Luv" (BEST K-POP), THE CHAINSMOKERS and BEBE REXHA, "Call You Mine" (BEST DANCE), TAYLOR SWIFT, "You Need to Calm Down" (VIDEO FOR GOOD), ARIANA GRANDE/SOCIAL HOUSE, "boyfriend" (SONG OF SUMMER), PANIC! AT THE DISCO, "High Hopes" (BEST ROCK) and NORMANI f/6LACK, "Waves" (BEST R&B). For a complete list of winners, go here. 

THE JONAS BROTHERS were up next, live from ASBURY PARK, performing spot-on versions of their hits, "Sucker" and "Only Human." The NEW JERSEY natives started from inside the famed STONE PONY, then strolled onto the boardwalk to take the stage at the waterfront pier. 

LIL NAS X titillated TAYLOR SWIFT with his black light neon performance of "Paanini" before MISSY ELLIOT was presented with the newly renamed VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD by CARDI B, who called her "the voice that we need." The hip-hop icon then let loose with a medley including "Get Your Freak On" and "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)," in her space-age attire. Her honor prompted a standing ovation amid cries of "Missy, Missy!"

ELLIOTT then thanked everyone from her mom to the late singer AALIYAH. "I want to dedicate this award to the dance community all around the world," she said.. "When y'all get on the stage with these artists, y'all are not just props. Y'all are the icing on the cake. Y'all are the beat to the heart."e with these artists, y'all are not just props. Y'all are the icing on the cake. Y'all are the beat to the heart."

SHAWN MENDES and CAMILA CABELLO  performed a steamy, sensually charged take on their current smash, "Senorita" ending in what appeared a smooch (earning a MOON MAN for BEST COLLABORATION) before MILEY CYRUS hit the stage with her brand-new song, "Slide Away," which many are speculating is about her recent break-up with her ex, actor LIAM HEMSWORTH. ROSALIA and OZUNA scorched the stage with their rendition of "Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi." Former FIFTH HARMONY member NORMANI made her solo VMA debut, breaking the Internet while showing off her gymnastic skills on the new single/video, "Motivation," followed by multi-GRAMMY nominee H.E.R., J BALVIN and BAD BUNNY, then BIG SEAN and A$AP FERG trading verses for the grand, choreographed finale.

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