Popsugar Celebrity Nostalgia Lady Gaga's Best MTV VMA Moments You Never Know What You're Going to Get When Lady Gaga Attends the MTV VMAs 17 August 2020 by Grayson Gilcrease Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz It's been seven years since Lady Gaga last attended the MTV VMAs and we've sorely missed her presence. Luckily, not only is she nominated for nine awards this year, but she will be giving a special performance. Whenever Lady Gaga attends the VMAs, you know she's going to put on a show — even if she's not actually performing. From her interesting choice in dates (see: Kermit the Frog) and unique outfits to her meticulously planned performances, take a look back at some of her best VMA moments in preparation for her to grace our screens once more on Aug. 30. Related: "Big Crying in the Club Energy": Presenting Our Favourite Songs on Lady Gaga's Chromatica 2009: Lady Gaga Attended the VMAs With Kermit the Frog as Her Date Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur The singer was nominated for a total of nine awards that night, including video of the year for "Poker Face" and best new artist. 1 / 19 2009: Lady Gaga Sang "Poker Face" and "Paparazzi" in a Bleeding Bodysuit Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur In true Lady Gaga style, everything about the performance was avant-garde, from the all white costumes and the bleeding bodysuit to her giving it her all while hanging from the ceiling. 2 / 19 2009: Lady Gaga Won Best New Artist Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz During her speech she thanked her family and fans before finishing it off with, "And it's for God, and for the gays." 3 / 19 2009: Lady Gaga Posed With Her Best New Artist Award Image Source: Getty / PA Images Gaga switched outfits to pose with the award backstage. 4 / 19 2010: Lady Gaga Was Accompanied on the White Carpet by Former Soldiers Image Source: Getty / Patrick McMullan The soldiers were discharged due to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and included Katie Miller, David Hall, Stacy Vasquez, and Mike Almy. After the show, an email was sent out asking fans to join her and the Servicemembers Legal Defence Network to repeal the discriminatory act. 5 / 19 2010: Lady Gaga Was Presented With the Best Pop Video Award by the Glee Cast Image Source: Getty / Kevin Winter She won best pop video for the song "Bad Romance." 6 / 19 2010: Lady Gaga Appeared in the Press Room in the Iconic Meat Dress Image Source: Getty / Gregg DeGuire Once she'd won awards for best pop video and best female video, she went to the press room wearing the iconic meat dress by Franc Fernandez. 7 / 19 2010: Lady Gaga Was Presented With Video of the Year by Cher Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur "Bad Romance" swept the awards that year, winning video of the year, best pop video, and best female video. 8 / 19 2011: Lady Gaga Performed as Her Alter Ego, Jo Calderone Image Source: Getty / Anthony Harvey Jo Calderone appeared on stage to explain why Lady Gaga "couldn't" be at the show before performing "You and I." 9 / 19 2011: Jo Calderone Presented Britney Spears With the Video Vanguard Award Image Source: Getty / Anthony Harvey Jo Calderone reappeared onstage to introduce the Britney Spears tribute performance and present Spears with the Video Vanguard Award. 10 / 19 2011: Jo Calderone Posed in the Press Room Image Source: Getty / Jon Kopaloff Calderone accepted best female video and best video with a message "on behalf of Gaga." 11 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Attended the VMAs With Her Father Joe Germanotta as Her Date Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur The singer was not nominated for any awards in 2013, but attended the show to premiere her new song "Applause." 12 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Performed the World Premiere of "Applause" Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz The performance was a tribute to her past eras, including nods to "Paparazzi" and "Telephone." 13 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Donned Some Interesting Outfits For Her "Applause" Performance Image Source: Getty / Larry Busacca Lady Gaga's first ensemble was reminiscent of the white fabric she uses in the "Applause" music video. 14 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Switched Into a Sleek Outfit During Her "Applause" Performance Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz Lady Gaga's second look was most similar to what she wore throughout the "Applause" music video. 15 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Channelled Past Eras For Her "Applause" Performance Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur Her third outfit was a mashup between her "Just Dance" and "Paparazzi" era looks. 16 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Sported a Yellow Wig For Her "Applause" Performance Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur Her fourth look included a bright yellow wig that was reminiscent of a wig she wore during the "Telephone" music video. 17 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Switched Into a Seashell Bikini For Her "Applause" Performance Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz Her fifth and final look was yet another nod to the "Applause" music video, as well as an Artpop song called "Venus." 18 / 19 2013: Lady Gaga Posed Backstage With One Direction Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz Lady Gaga posed backstage with the boys of One Direction, who had won the award for song of the summer that year. 19 / 19 NostalgiaMTV VMAsLady GaGaMusicRed Carpet