Every Artist Who's Won the VMAs Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award

The inaugural Vanguard Award went to the incomparable David Bowie.

Recognised for his work with Talking Heads, Byrne was honoured by The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde.

The late Robert Palmer presented Madonna with her Vanguard Award in 1986 – can you believe how far she’s come since then?

The Genesis founder won his Vanguard in 1987. Alexa, play “Sledgehammer.”

Madonna presented the “Faith” singer with his honour in 1989.

The late singer-songwriter was awarded in 1994, as were the Rolling Stones, who received a lifetime achievement award.

Drew Barrymore presented Michael Stipe and the guys with their Vanguard trophy.

Mariah Carey presented the eternally smooth rapper with a Vanguard Award in 1997, making him the first hip-hop artist to receive the honour. That same year, director Mark Romanek was also recognised for his talents.

The band received their honour from Chris Rock and Lance Crouther.

During their acceptance speech, the members of U2 pulled a sweet move by inviting the surviving members of the Ramones on stage with them to honour the memory of lead singer Joey Ramone, who had died a few months earlier. “New York City has given us a lot of things, but the best thing it ever gave us was a punk rock group called the Ramones, without whom a lot of people would never have gotten started, certainly us,” Bono told the audience.

Spears received a tribute performance by young dancers who did choreographed routines to a medley of her hits. Then, Lady Gaga (who was for some reason dressed as her alter ego, Jo Calderone) presented Britney with her Moon Person (after trying to hit on her).

For his Vanguard Award performance, Timberlake gathered his former *NSYNC bandmates and took over the show like it was 1999.

Let’s get something straight: every VMAs should involve Beyoncé. Period. The singer performed a 16-minute medley of her just-released self-titled album, then proceeded to melt our hearts when she joined husband JAY-Z and their daughter Blue Ivy, who presented her with a golden Moon Person.

MTV surprised us all in 2015 when Taylor Swift presented her on-again, off-again, on-again nemesis Kanye West with his Vanguard Award. It was a full-circle moment from their “infamous encounter” at the show in 2009. Kanye went on to give a long and passionate acceptance speech in which he announced his plans to run for president in 2020 and railed against award shows and the entertainment industry.

After she performed several medleys during the show, it was Rihanna’s then-rumoured flame Drake who presented her with the Vanguard Award, and his speech was so gushy that many of us were waiting for him to get down on one knee and propose. Rihanna opened up about the “uncomfortable” moment in an interview in June 2018, saying, “I don’t like too many compliments; I don’t like to be put on blast.”

Pink was introduced to the stage by Ellen DeGeneres, and after giving a rousing performance of a medley of her many hits, the singer shared an inspiring story about her daughter during her acceptance speech.

J.Lo made history as the first Latinx artist to ever receive the award in 2018. She performed a medley of her greatest hits, including “Waiting For Tonight,” “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” “Get Right,” and “All I Have.” Oh, and she also did “Jenny From the Block” and “I’m Real” (with help from Ja Rule!).

Cardi B presented Missy Elliot with her award, making her the first female rapper ever to take home the high honour. She, of course, performed her hit single “Work It” (which previously won the video of the year award in 2003) at the ceremony, and she got a crowd-pleasing assist from an all-grown-up Alyson Stoner, who got their start dancing in the rap star’s music videos.

Nicki Minaj has been in the mainstream spotlight for just over 10 years, but her music career is already one for the books and peppered with iconic MTV VMAs performances. Who can forget her 2014 rendition of “Bang, Bang” with Ariana Grande and Jessie J where she performed right through a wardrobe malfunction without missing a beat, or her 2018 rap medley? Minaj hasn’t shied away from calling the VMAs out when she felt she wasn’t getting the recognition she was due, either, like when she pointed out their snub her record-breaking music video “Anaconda” for video of the year in 2015. With such a storied history with the VMAs in so little time, it’s no wonder she’ll receive the award ceremony’s prestigious honour at the 2022 ceremony on Aug. 28.