Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish were the big winners at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards 2019, scoring three awards each.
The 36th annual bash took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, this year, hosted by actor and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
From the outset, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande were lined up for the most awards at ten nods each. Both of them were given equal sharing on the night, earning three awards each despite the latter not attending the ceremony.
Ariana earned Best Art Direction, Song Of The Summer for boyfriend with Social House, and Artist Of The Year, while Taylor Swift scored Video Of The Year, Video For Good, and Best Visual Effects.
Billie Eilish also earned three awards for Best New Artist, Push Artist Of The Year, and Best Editing for hit song Bad Guy – but was another no show at the event.
Despite the actual rushed award giving, there was some suitably ludicrous performances on offer – with Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello delivering an almost-kiss tease which will leave everyone gossiping about their romance for weeks.
Taylor Swift kicked off the show channeling the video for You Need To Calm Down, with references to the Equality Act before calling out the White House in her acceptance speech over the petition surrounding it.
Missy Elliott, who was awarded the gong of Video Vanguard this year, delivered a killer medley of tracks in one of the crowning highlights, while Lizzo’s inflatable bum prop was just as incredible as her vocals.
Following her publicised split from Liam Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus provided the show with a rare raw moment of intensity – debuting new song Slide Away with sweeping strings.
Despite the impressive performances, the bash was bizarrely lacking of noteworthy moments – with a bizarre closer from Queen Latifah, Naughty by Nature, Redman, Fetty Wap and Wyclef Jean feeling like a fever dream from a different decade.
While it wasn’t a historic year for the MTV VMAs, with notable omissions and a lack of live mishaps (John Travolta aside), the lively performances kept this event afloat.
MTV VMAs 2019 winners
Video of the Year
21 Savage ft. J. Cole – a lot
Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
Jonas Brothers – Sucker
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix)
Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down - WINNER
Artist of the Year
Cardi B
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande - WINNER
Halsey
Jonas Brothers
Shawn Mendes
Song of the Year
Drake – In My Feelings
Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
Jonas Brothers – Sucker
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix) - WINNER
Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down
Best New Artist
Ava Max
Billie Eilish - WINNER
H.E.R.
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
ROSALÍA
Best Group
5 Seconds of Summer
Backstreet Boys
BLACKPINK
BTS - WINNER
CNCO
Jonas Brothers
PRETTYMUCH
Why Don’t We
Best Power Anthem
Ariana Grande – 7 Rings
DJ Khaled ft. Cardi B & 21 Savage – Wish Wish
Halsey – Nightmare
Lizzo ft. Missy Elliot – Tempo
Maren Morris – GIRL
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Micki Minaj & Ty Dolla Sign – Hot Girl Summer - WINNER
Miley Cyrus – Mother’s Daughter
Taylor Swift – You Need To Calm Down
Song of the Summer
Ariana Grande & Social House – boyfriend - WINNER
Billie Eillish – bad guy
DaBaby – Suge
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
Jonas Brothers – Sucker
Khalid – Talk
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (remix)
Lil Tecca – Ransom
Lizzo – Truth Hurts
Miley Cyrus – Mother’s Daughter
Taylor Swift – You Need To Calm Down
Post Malone ft. Young Thug – Goodbyes
RASALIA & J Balvin ft. El Gulncho – Con Altura
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Senorita
The Chainsmokers, Bebe Rexha – Call You Mine
Young Thug ft. J. Cole & Travis Scott – The London
Best Collaboration
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix)
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita - WINNER
Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – ME!
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
BTS ft. Halsey – Boy With Luv
Push Artist of the Year
Bazzi
CNCO
Billie Eilish - WINNER
H.E.R.
Lauv
Lizzo
Best Pop
5 Seconds of Summer – Easier
Cardi B & Bruno Mars – Please Me
Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
Jonas Brothers – Sucker - WINNER
Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down
Khalid – Talk
Best Hip-Hop
2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande – Rule the World
21 Savage ft. J. Cole – a lot
Cardi B – Money - WINNER
DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – Higher
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix)
Travis Scott ft. Drake – SICKO MODE
Best R&B
Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson – Make It Better
Childish Gambino – Feels Like Summer
H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller – Could’ve Been
Alicia Keys – Raise A Man
Ella Mai – Trip
Normani ft. 6lack – Waves - WINNER
Best K-Pop
BTS ft. Halsey – Boy With Luv - WINNER
BLACKPINK – Kill This Love
Monsta X ft. French Montana – Who Do You Love
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – Cat & Dog
NCT 127 – Regular
EXO – Tempo
Best Latin
Anuel AA, Karol G – Secreto
Bad Bunny ft. Drake – MIA
Benny Blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin – I Can’t Get Enough
Daddy Yankee ft. Snow – Con Calma
Maluma – Mala Mía
ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – Con Altura - WINNER
Best Dance
The Chainsmokers ft. Bebe Rexha – Call You Mine - WINNER
Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – Solo
DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B – Taki Taki
David Guetta, Bebe Rexha & J Balvin – Say My Name
Marshmello & Bastille – Happier
Silk City & Dua Lipa – Electricity
Best Rock
The 1975 – Love It If We Made It
Fall Out Boy – Bishops Knife Trick
Imagine Dragons – Natural
Lenny Kravitz – Low
Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes - WINNER
twenty one pilots – My Blood
Video for Good
Halsey – Nightmare
The Killers – Land of the Free
Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey ft. Gallant – Runaway Train
John Legend – Preach
Lil Dicky – Earth
Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down - WINNER
Best Direction
Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
FKA twigs – Cellophane
Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix) - WINNER
LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – No New Friends
Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down
Best Visual Effects
Billie Eilish – when the party’s over
FKA twigs – Cellophane
Ariana Grande – God is a Woman
DJ Khaled ft. SZA – Just Us
LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – No New Friends
Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – ME! - WINNER
Best Editing
Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – Tints
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix)
Billie Eilish – Bad Guy - WINNER
Ariana Grande – 7 Rings
Solange – Almeda
Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down
Best Art Direction
BTS ft. Halsey – Boy With Luv
Ariana Grande – 7 Rings - WINNER
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix)
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita
Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down
Kanye West and Lil’ Pump ft. Adele Givens – I Love It
Best Choreography
FKA twigs – Cellophane
ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – Con Altura - WINNER
LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – No New Friends
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita
Solange – Almeda
BTS ft. Halsey – Boy With Luv
Best Cinematography
Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – Tints
Billie Eilish – hostage
Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita - WINNER
Solange – Almeda
Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – ME!
Fashion Trailblazer
Marc Jacobs
Video Vanguard Award
Missy Elliott
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