While MTV’s Video Music Awards —aka the VMAs—have honored the art of music videos since the ’80s, the beloved awards show is also responsible for introducing some of the most iconic live performances in pop culture history. They’re the kinds that alter your brain chemistry from a young age and leave an impression on artists for years to come.

Since its inception, artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Britney Spears have made the VMAs their playground for building their own legacies. In 2009, Lady Gaga made a statement against celebrity culture with a bloody performance of “Paparazzi,” Beyoncé announced her pregnancy with Blue Ivy in 2011, and Taylor Swift made history with her Lover -era medley in 2019. Of course, newcomers like Chappell Roan and Doechii took the stage

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