Jennifer Lopez [1] will be the first Latin artist to win MTV's Video Vanguard Award [2] at the VMAs this month, and it got us thinking about all the other musicians to receive the honour over the years. The Vanguard was created in 1984 and renamed after the iconic Michael Jackson [3] in 1991; it recognises artists' overall achievements in music and film, and there were actually two inaugural winners: David Bowie and The Beatles.
While there has been plenty of debate over who probably should have a Vanguard Award but doesn't — *cough* Missy "Misdemeanour" Elliott [4] *cough* — it doesn't get awarded every year and has sometimes been given as a lifetime achievement award instead. My favourite thing about the Vanguard Award is seeing how the artists celebrate and accept them. Beyoncé damn near performed her entire self-titled album [5]; Kanye West [6] damn near ran for US president; Justin Timberlake [7] damn near resurrected *NSYNC from the dead [8]; and Lady Gaga [9] had me damn near throwing wine at the TV when she presented Britney Spears [10] with an award while dressed as her male alter ego, Jo Calderone [11]. I'll never understand why that happened.
Keep reading to see all the artists who have taken home the coveted Moon Person over the years, then check out even more unforgettable moments from the MTV VMAs [12].
George Michael, 1989
Madonna [15] presented the "Faith" singer with his honour in 1989.
Tom Petty, 1994
The late singer-songwriter was awarded in 1994, as were the Rolling Stones, who received a lifetime achievement award.
R.E.M., 1995
Drew Barrymore [19] presented Michael Stipe and the guys with their Vanguard trophy.
LL Cool J, 1997
Mariah Carey [20] 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.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, 2000
The band received their honour from Chris Rock [21] and Lance Crouther.
U2, 2001
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.
Justin Timberlake, 2013
Perhaps after realising how much it let me down with Britney Spears [24]'s tribute two years earlier, MTV decided to make it up to me by honouring Justin Timberlake [25]. For his Vanguard Award performance, Timberlake gathered his former *NSYNC bandmates and took over the show like it was 1999 [26]. I screamed like a teenager throughout.
Beyoncé, 2014
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 [27], who presented her with a golden Moon Person. It was too much for my heart.
Kanye West, 2015
MTV surprised us all in 2015 when Taylor Swift presented her on-again, off-again nemesis Kanye West [28] 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 [29] in which he announced his plans to run for president in 2020 and railed against award shows and the entertainment industry [30].
Rihanna, 2016
After she performed several medleys during the show, it was Rihanna [31]'s rumoured on-again 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 [32]. Rihanna [33] opened up about the "uncomfortable" moment [34] in an interview in June 2018, saying, "I don't like too many compliments; I don't like to be put on blast."
Pink, 2017
Pink was introduced to the stage by Ellen DeGeneres [35], and after giving a rousing performance of a medley of her many hits [36], the singer shared an inspiring story about her daughter [37] during her acceptance speech.