The MTV VMAs took place in NYC and they were supposed to be live – an example for other awards shows coming up. But it looks like that isn't exactly the whole truth!
Artists reportedly taped their performances in advance and in some cases didn’t even fly into New York City.
And not just the performances, but red carpet interviews and awards presentations were also all filmed days in advance!
But MTV went the extra mile to follow CDC guidelines during the show’s production.
Performers had to quarantine, dancers to glam teams had to get COVID tests and everything had a time limit.
Which means artists rehearsed, performed and did their interviews on the same day.
Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Doja Cat all shot theirs in LA in front a green screen to make it look like NYC. The Weeknd filmed his performance in New York City on Thursday.
Here are the big winners!
MTV Tricon Award
Lady Gaga
How inspirational was @ladygaga's Tricon Award acceptance speech?! We are still in awe! #VMAs pic.twitter.com/XKoDxSJiEs
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Video Of The Year
Billie Eilish – ‘Everything I Wanted’
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD – ‘Godzilla’
Future ft. Drake – ‘Life Is Good’
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – ‘Rain On Me’
Taylor Swift – ‘The Man’
The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights’ – winner
.@theweeknd is taking home the #VMA for Video of the Year, and sending a powerful message pic.twitter.com/aUNPo8gXAJ
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Artist Of The Year
DaBaby
Justin Bieber
Lady Gaga – winner
Megan Thee Stallion
Post Malone
The Weeknd
"Everyone always knew if they were hanging out with me that I was on a mission to spread joy through culture, through dance, through music." Congrats to @LadyGaga 💗 #GirlPower @SeeHer2020 #SeeHerHearHer #VMAs pic.twitter.com/RV6CI1n2MF
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Song Of The Year
Billie Eilish – ‘Everything I Wanted’
Doja Cat – ‘Say So’
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – ‘Rain On Me’ – winner
Megan Thee Stallion – ‘Savage’
Post Malone – ‘Circles’
Roddy Ricch – ‘The Box’
And the #VMA for Song of the Year goes to... @LadyGaga and @ArianaGrande for #RainOnMe! 🌨 👑 pic.twitter.com/4GNbBCF0Pr
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best Collaboration
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – ‘Stuck With U’
Black Eyed Peas ft. J. Balvin – ‘RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)’
Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid – ‘Beautiful People’
Future ft. Drake – ‘Life Is Good’
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj – ‘Tusa’
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – ‘Rain On Me’ – winner
Congrats to QUEENS @LadyGaga and @AriannaGrande for winning the #VMA for Best Collaboration! 🌨💖 pic.twitter.com/3TUl4kkFra
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best Group
5 Seconds Of Summer
The 1975
BLACKPINK
BTS – winner
Chloe x Halle
CNCO
Little Mix
Monsta X
Now United
Twenty One Pilots
PUSH Best New Artist
Doja Cat – winner
Jack Harlow
Lewis Capaldi
Roddy Ricch
Tate McRae
Yungblud
Congratulations to @DojaCat on winning PUSH Best New Artist at the 2020 #VMAs! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/VfQ8QNzYtA
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best Pop
BTS – ‘On’ – winner
Halsey – ‘You Should Be Sad’
Jonas Brothers – ‘What A Man Gotta Do’
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo – ‘Intentions’
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – ‘Rain On Me’
Taylor Swift – ‘Lover’
💜 @BTS_twt is taking home the Moon Person for Best Pop at this year's #VMAs! ✨ pic.twitter.com/vfNyLM3ikU
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best Hip-Hop
DaBaby – ‘BOP’
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD – ‘Godzilla’
Future ft. Drake – ‘Life Is Good’
Megan Thee Stallion – ‘Savage’ – winner
Roddy Ricch – ‘The Box’
Travis Scott – ‘Highest In The Room’
Congrats to @theestallion on winning Best Hip Hop 🔥#GirlPower @seeher2020 #seeherHearher #VMAs pic.twitter.com/xMFmOZOVqT
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best Rock
Blink-182 – ‘Happy Days’
Coldplay – ‘Orphans’ – winner
Evanescence – ‘Wasted On You’
Fall Out Boy ft. Wyclef Jean – ‘Dear Future Self (Hands Up)’
Green Day – ‘Oh Yeah!’
The Killers – ‘Caution’
Best Alternative
The 1975 – ‘If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)’
All Time Low – ‘Some Kind Of Disaster’
Finneas – ‘Let’s Fall In Love For The Night’
Lana Del Rey – ‘Doin’ Time’
Machine Gun Kelly – ‘Bloody Valentine’ – winner
Twenty One Pilots – ‘Level Of Concern’
CONGRATS to @machinegunkelly for scoring the #VMA for Best Alternative! 🤘🔥 pic.twitter.com/ouwfTQEphj
— MTV (@MTV) August 30, 2020
Best Latin
Anuel AA ft. Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J. Balvin – ‘China’
Bad Bunny – ‘Yo Perreo Sola’
Black Eyed Peas ft. Ozuna & J. Rey Soul – ‘Mamacita’
J. Balvin – ‘Amarillo’
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj – ‘Tusa’
Maluma ft. J. Balvin – ‘Qué Pena’ – winner
Congrats to @maluma and @JBALVIN on winning Best Latin at the #VMAs 🎉 pic.twitter.com/LpUJ0YS3CF
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best R&B
Alicia Keys – ‘Underdog’
Chloe x Halle – ‘Do It’
H.E.R. ft. YG – ‘Slide’
Khalid ft. Summer Walker – ‘Eleven’
Lizzo – ‘Cuz I Love You’
The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights’ – winner
The #VMA for Best R&B goes to @theweeknd for “Blinding Lights." pic.twitter.com/s2VjssMwjA
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best K-pop
(G)I–DLE – ‘Oh My God’
BTS – ‘On’ – winner
EXO – ‘Obsession’
Monsta X – ‘Someone’s Someone’
Tomorrow X Together – ‘9 And Three Quarters (Run Away)’
Red Velvet – ‘Psycho’
Video For Good
Anderson .Paak – ‘Lockdown’
Billie Eilish – ‘All The Good Girls Go To Hell’
Demi Lovato – ‘I Love Me’
H.E.R. – ‘I Can’t Breathe’ – winner
Lil Baby – ‘The Bigger Picture’
Taylor Swift – ‘The Man’
CONGRATULATIONS @HERMusicx on winning the #VMA for Video For Good!!
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Such a powerful message 💗 pic.twitter.com/jXN24xhgUs
Best Music Video From Home
5 Seconds Of Summer – ‘Wildflower’
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – ‘Stuck With U’ – winner
Blink-182 – ‘Happy Days’
Drake – ‘Toosie Slide’
John Legend – ‘Bigger Love’
Twenty One Pilots – ‘Level Of Concern
Best Quarantine Performance
Chloe x Halle – ‘Do It’ from MTV’s Prom-athon
CNCO – ‘Unplugged At Home’ – winner
DJ D-Nice – Club MTV Presents #DanceTogether
John Legend – #togetherathome Concert Series
Lady Gaga – ‘Smile’ from One World: Together At Home
Post Malone – Nirvana tribute
Best Direction
Billie Eilish – ‘Xanny’ (Billie Eilish)
Doja Cat – ‘Say So’ (Hannah Lux Davis)
Dua Lipa – ‘Don’t Start Now’ (Nabil)
Harry Styles – ‘Adore You’ (Dave Meyers)
Taylor Swift – ‘The Man’ (Taylor Swift) – winner
The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights’ (Anton Tammi)
Congrats to @taylorswift13 on winning Best Direction! #GirlPower #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QrnJQoABHd
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
Best Cinematography
5 Seconds Of Summer – ‘Old Me’ (Kieran Fowler)
Camilla Cabello ft. DaBaby – ‘My Oh My’ (Dave Meyers)
Billie Eilish – ‘All The Good Girls Go To Hell’ (Christopher Probst)
Katy Perry – ‘Harleys In Hawaii’ (Arnau Valls)
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – ‘Rain On Me’ (Thomas Kloss) – winner
The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights (Oliver Millar)
Best Art Direction
A$AP Rocky – ‘Babushka Boi’ (A$AP Rocky & Nadia Lee Cohen)
Dua Lipa – ‘Physical’ (Anna Colomeì Nogu ì)
Harry Styles – ‘Adore You’ (Laura Ellis Cricks)
Miley Cyrus – ‘Mother’s Daughter’ (Christian Stone) – winner
Selena Gomez – ‘Boyfriend’ (Tatiana Van Sauter)
Taylor Swift – ‘Lover’ (Ethan Tobman)
Best Visual Effects
Billie Eilish – ‘All The Good Girls To Hell’ (Drive Studios)
Demi Lovato – ‘I Love Me’ (Hoody FX)
Dua Lipa – ‘Physical’ (EIGHTY4) – winner
Harry Styles – ‘Adore You’ (Mathematic)
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – ‘Rain On Me’ (Ingenuity Studios)
Travis Scott – ‘Highest In The Room’ (Artjail, Scissor Films & Frender)
Best Choreography
BTS – ‘On’ (Son Song Deuk, Lee Ga Hun, Lee Byung Eun) – winner
CNCO & Natti Natasha – ‘Honey Boo’ (Kyle Hanagami)
DaBaby – ‘BOP’ (Dani Leigh and Cherry)
Dua Lipa – ‘Physical’ (Charm La’Donna)
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – ‘Rain On Me’ (Richy Jackson)
Normani – ‘Motivation’ (Sean Bankhead)
Best Editing
Halsey – ‘Graveyard’ (Emilie Aubry, Janne Vartia & Tim Montana)
James Blake – ‘Can’t Believe The Way We Flow’ (Frank Lebon)
Lizzo – ‘Good As Hell’ (Russell Santos & Sofia Kerpan)
Miley Cyrus – ‘Mother’s Daughter’ (Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico) – winner
Rosalía – ‘A Palé’ (Andre Jones)
The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights’ (Janne Vartia & Tim Montana)
