See photos from the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.
Jimmy Fallon presents Beyonce with “Video of the Year” for “Formation” onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Jimmy Fallon presents the Video of the Year award during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Drake presents the Video Vanguard award to Rihanna onstage during the 2016 MTV Music Video Awards at Madison Square Gareden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Drake presents Rihanna with the The Video Vanguard Award during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
(L-R) Jack Lawless, JinJoo Lee, Cole Whittle and Joe Jonas of DNCE accepts the award for Best New Artist onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Beyonce accepts the Best Female Video award presented by Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, and Simone Biles onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez present Best Female Video onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez present Best Female Video onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Rihanna performs at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Ally Brooke, from left, Lauren Jauregui, Normani Hamilton, Dinah Jane Hansen, and Camila Cabello of Fifth Harmony and Ty Dolla $ign accept the award for best collaboration video for Work From Home at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Andrew Taggart of The Chainsmokers, left, and Halsey perform at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Britney Spears and G Eazy perform onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Britney Spears performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Britney Spears performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Shameik Moore and Jaden Smith performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Michael Phelps introduces a performance by Future at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele perform onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Naomi Campbell presents a performance by Rihanna at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Kanye West performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Future performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Alicia Keys presents onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Alicia Keys presents onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Ariana Grande, left, and Nicki Minaj perform at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Ariana Grande performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Ariana Grande (C) performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Rihanna (C) performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs presents the award for best hip-hop video at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Beyonce and mothers of gun violence attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Mothers of gun violence Lesley McFadden, Gwen Carr, Wanda Johnson and Sybrina Fulton attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Beyonce arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Beyonce, left, and her daughter Blue Ivy arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Beyonce attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Chloe Bailey (L) and Halle Bailey attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Desiigner arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Britney Spears attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Ariana Grande attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Singer Tinashe attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Ariana Grande attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Cassie attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Cassie attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Amber Rose arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Lance Bass wears a jacket with the slogan “Love Trumps Hate” as he arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Mark Falgren, from left, Magnus Larsson, Lukas Forchhammer, and Morten Ristrop of Lukas Graham arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York.
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Nicki Minaj attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Nicki Minaj attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Alicia Keys attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Nick Jonas attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Nick Jonas attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Naomi Campbell attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Britney Spears and G-Eazy attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Jaden Smith attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Joan Smalls attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Rupaul’s Drag Race All Stars attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Laura Perlongo and Nev Schulman attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Choreographer Paris Goebel attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Ashley Graham and husband Justin Ervin attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Hailee Steinfeld attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Alessia Cara attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV
Rita Ora attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Sean Diddy Combs attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
(L-R) Cole Whittle, Joe Jonas, JinJoo Lee, Jack Lawless of DNCE with Ashley Graham (C) attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Justine Skye attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Chance the Rapper attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Social media star Baddie Winkle attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Jordan Fisher attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (AP) — Beyonce proved once again she is the contemporary rock star, and she used the MTV Video Music Awards stage to showcase her skills and outshine her peers, from Rihanna to Britney Spears.
Beyonce won eight awards, including video of the year, and performed five songs from her visual album “Lemonade” in an epic 16-minute concert Sunday that had the audience at Madison Square Garden in awe.
She sang live, danced heavily and worked the crowd as she ran through “Pray You Catch Me,” ”Holy Up,” ”Sorry,” ”Don’t Hurt Yourself” and “Formation,” which won the top prize over Adele, Drake, Justin Bieber and Kanye West. Watch her performance.
“First of all, I’d like to thank my beautiful daughter and my incredible husband for all of their support,” said Beyonce, who walked the carpet with daughter Blue Ivy and the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner — who all appeared in “Lemonade” movie.
It was reminiscent of the 2014 VMAs, when Beyonce also performed for 16 minutes and accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. This year it was awarded to Rihanna, who split up her performances throughout the night, singing hits such as “Work,” ”We Found Love” and “Love on the Brain.”
But the biggest moment for Rihanna came when Drake — in a tuxedo — presented the award to his former girlfriend. He said he met Rihanna in 2005 on the set of her first music video for “Pon de Replay.”
“She’s someone I’ve been in love with her since I was 22 years old,” Drake said as Rihanna blushed and the audience cheered loudly. “She’s one of my best friends in the world. All of my adult life I’ve looked up to her even though she’s younger than me.”
Rihanna, 28, thanked her family, friends and hometown of Saint Michael, Barbados, for helping her succeed in her 11-year-career.
“My success started as my dream, but now my success is not my own. It’s my family, my fans, my country …it’s women, it’s black women,” she said.
Beyonce’s top-notch performance starkly contrasted with that of Spears, who returned to the VMA stage after 10 years. Not only did she lip sync, in typical fashion, but she did so badly. Spears performed her hit “Make Me…” and danced slickly, but she didn’t actually sing a word of the song live. She was joined by rapper G-Eazy — and she lip synched the hook to his hit song, “Me, Myself and I.”
In true Kanye fashion, the rapper ranted onstage, touching on subjects from music to his beef with Taylor Swift to violence in his hometown Chicago before he debuted his music video for “Fade,” which starred Teyana Taylor. He talked about his “Famous” video, which features what appear to be naked images of himself, his wife Kim Kardashian, Swift, Donald Trump and others. He even pointed to former girlfriend Amber Rose, who was in the audience and is also in the video.
Drake won best hip hop video for “Hotline Bling” and Calvin Harris won best male video for “This is What You Came For.” David Bowie — who died from cancer earlier this year — received four nominations for “Lazarus” and won best art direction. The music video, which shows him looking frail in bed with bandaged eyes, was released just days before the icon’s Jan. 10 death.
Performers included Nick Jonas, The Chainsmokers, Ty Dollar $ign and Ariana Grande, who brought spin class to the VMA stage when she sang the reggae-tinged “Side to Side” with Nicki Minaj.
In one of several odes to the recent Olympic Games, Michael Phelps said he’s been inspired by hip-hop music before introducing Future, who Phelps said he listened to before swimming and making the grimace that went viral. The rapper-singer-producer performed his hit “(Expletive) Up Some Commas.”
Jimmy Fallon, who presented video of the year, dressed as Ryan Lochte and even sported the platinum blonde hair. As Lochte — who is dealing with trouble after filing a false robbery report over an incident during the Rio Olympics — Fallon lied onstage about writing Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and directing the clips nominated for video of the year.
Other presenters include Alicia Keys, Puff Daddy and four of the Final Five gymnasts (Gabby Douglas was hospitalized for a mouth infection).
Adele was behind Beyonce with eight nominations, but the British singer did not attend the show and did not win any Moon Men. Beyonce’s wins included best female video, pop video, breakthrough long-form video, choreography, direction, cinematography and editing.
