Taylor Swift Breaks MTV VMAs Record, Becomes Most Awarded Artist

Taylor Swift has added another milestone to her record-breaking career, becoming the most awarded artist in MTV Video Music Awards history.

Swift, 36, entered Sunday’s ceremony tied with Beyoncé at 30 Moonman trophies. She moved ahead after receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors for her work behind the camera on visual storytelling for “The Fate of Ophelia.”

The pop superstar also claimed Video of the Year and dedicated the honour to late country icon Dolly Parton.

“every single song she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid,” Swift said while praising Parton.

“She handled this fame with such grace and love and gratitude,” she added.

Swift also unveiled the music video for her new single, “Patient Zero,” starring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

The song centres on a woman being warned about a man with whom Swift says she had a toxic relationship.

“If he’s killing you / I got you / I was patient zero,” she sings.

Madonna takes Artist of the Year

Despite her historic night, Swift missed out on some of the ceremony’s biggest awards, including Artist of the Year, which went to Madonna.

The 68-year-old pop icon used her acceptance speech to recall an embarrassing moment at the first MTV awards show, when her manager warned that her career was finished after she briefly mooned the audience during a performance.

“My manager said my career was over,” Madonna recalled, noting that he was no longer her manager.

Madonna later opened the ceremony with her first VMAs performance since her headline-making 2003 appearance, when she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during a medley.

She performed “Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter before teaming up with Charli XCX for “Danceteria.”

Madonna and Carpenter subsequently won Best Collaboration and joked about how Madonna had reached out to Carpenter through social media to get her into the studio.

Nirvana honoured with Video Vanguard award

Grunge legends Nirvana were presented with the Video Vanguard award, becoming the first group in more than two decades to receive the prestigious honour.

Kurt Cobain, the band’s frontman, died by suicide in 1994 after Nirvana’s albums “Nevermind” and “In Utero” had propelled the group to international success.

After a retrospective of Nirvana’s music videos, bassist Krist Novoselic said: “Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity.”

“Something real, something uncompromising. Something that tells you it’s just okay to come as you are,” he added.

Elsewhere, Thai singer LISA of Blackpink won Best Pop for “Dream,” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi.

The ceremony also featured major tributes, with Kacey Musgraves leading a performance honouring Dolly Parton. Teddy Swims, Sombr and Raye paid tribute to George Michael, marking 40 years since the release of his landmark album “Faith.”

Rapper Snoop Dogg hosted the ceremony, which was broadcast on CBS and MTV.

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