Best and worst moments from 2018 MTV VMAs

The biggest stars in music were all under one roof for the 2018 MTV VMAs. Let’s take a look at the best and worst moments from the night.

Last night, music icons of the past and present made their way to Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the 2018 Video Music Awards (VMAs). The VMAs are one of the bigger awards shows in music because of its ability to attract both current stars as well as millions of viewers.

Stars in attendance included Aerosmith, Ariana Grande, Backstreet Boys, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Jennifer Lopez, Logic, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Panic! aPost Malone Shawn Mendes, and Travis Scott. There were a lot of memorable performances and speeches from the VMAs. Here are the best and worst moments from last night.

Best: Jennifer Lopez performs medley for Video Vanguard Award

After last night, it’s clear that she’s still Jenny from the block. Jennifer Lopez received the legendary Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and dazzled the crowd with a medley of hits that included a plethora of her hits like “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” “I’m Real,” and the recent “Dinero.” During her speech, Lopez passionately explained how she grew up on MTV and carved her own path in the entertainment industry.

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Worst: Madonna’s tribute to Aretha Franklin

The last presenter of the night was Madonna, who performed at the very first VMAs in 1984. Madonna was not only there to announce the Video of the Year, but pay tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, who passed away last week. However, despite mentioning a personal story about how she sang one of Franklin’s songs at an audition, the tribute turned into a long, personal story about Madonna’s journey in the business. Frankly, it left many fans confused as to Franklin was not the focal point of the speech. Madonna is an icon, but this tribute was less than iconic.

Best: Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott dominate performances amid album controversy

This past Sunday, Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott battled for album supremacy on the Billboard 200. Minaj was hoping her latest album, “Queen” would debut at #1, but in the end, Scott’s “Astroworld” was able to hold onto the top spot. Minaj took to Twitter to express her frustration, citing reasons such as merchandise bundling as to why she lost. Anyway, both stars were present for the VMAs and both performances brought the house down. Minaj performed a “Queen” medley from New York City’s Oculus while Scott performed his medley that included “Stargazing” on the main stage.

Worst: Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively’s sketch with the Rockettes

Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively were on hand to promote their upcoming movie, A Simple Favor. Before announcing the winner of Best Pop Video, the duo performed a sketch with the Rockettes dancing in the background. Although Kendrick and Lively are talented actresses, the skit seemed forced and out of place for a music ceremony.

What were your best and worst moments from the VMAs? Let me know in the comments or tweet me @danny_giro!