Taylor Swift becomes most awarded artist in MTV VMAs history

Taylor Swift became the most awarded artist in MTV Video Music Awards history on Sunday, breaking a tie with Beyonce after receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors and winning Video of the Year, reports that carried the AFP dispatch said.

The 36-year-old singer also used the ceremony to premiere the video for her new single “Patient Zero,” which stars actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, the reports added. Swift dedicated her Video of the Year win to the recently deceased country legend Dolly Parton, praising Parton’s songwriting and how she handled fame, according to the reports.

Swift said of Parton, “every single song she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid.” The new video includes the lyric lines reported as, “If he’s killing you / I got you / I was patient zero,” the outlets said.

Not every major prize went to Swift. Madonna took the Artist of the Year award. While accepting the prize, Madonna recalled an anecdote from the first MTV awards, saying, “My manager said my career was over,” and adding that he was “not my manager anymore,” the reports stated.

Madonna opened the show with her first VMA performance since 2003, singing “Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter and later medleying with Charli XCX on “Danceteria.” After their performance Madonna and Carpenter won Best Collaboration, the outlets said.

Grunge band Nirvana received the Video Vanguard award, becoming the first group honoured with the accolade in more than 20 years, the reports noted. Bass player Krist Novoselic commented after a video retrospective, saying, “Something real, something uncompromising. Something that tells you it’s just okay to come as you are,” the reports added.

Other winners included Thai artist LISA of Blackpink, who won Best Pop for “Dream,” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. The reports said the majority of awards were handed out offstage.

The ceremony featured tributes and performances. Kacey Musgraves headlined a tribute to Dolly Parton, and Teddy Swims, Sombr and Raye offered a tribute to George Michael, marking 40 years since his album “Faith.” Snoop Dogg hosted the show, which was broadcast on CBS and MTV, the reports said.

Channels Television and Vanguard carried the AFP report used for this account. Links to their versions are provided below.

Sources: Channels Television, Vanguard (AFP)

Featured image: MTV Viacom via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.