It does n’t get much Thornton Niven Wilder than 2009 .
In the 1980s, MTV executives created the Video Music Awards as an alternative to the Grammys withtwo goalsin mind: “legitimize the video music form” and “have a party.”
At the very first ceremony in September 1984, Madonna set the tone by leaping out of a cake in a lace wedding dress while performing “Like A Virgin.” And quickly, the show proved to be unlike any other awards ceremony on the celebrity calendar, facilitating some of history’s most iconicpop culturemoments to date.
Now, as the media landscape has evolved, it’s safe to say that the VMAs’overall relevancehas somewhat lessened. However, what’s certainly remained is the show’s ability to cultivate memorable moments during its low-stakes but high-drama ceremony each and every year.
So, in honor of the 40thMTV VMAsthis week, I had the pleasure of digging into the archives and selecting an iconic image from each ceremony since the very first one. Enjoy!
1984
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And as for 2024? Megan Thee Stallion is hosting, Taylor Swift looks set to attend, and we’ve got a ton of exciting performances to look forward to from the likes of Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan. So, let’s see what the night brings!
The 40th one-year VMAs will be take hold in New York on Wednesday , Sept. 11 , at 8 P.M. ET . you may determine on MTV and all Paramount channels , and stream it survive on Paramount+ and Univision .
It doesn’t get much wilder than 2009.
