Revisiting Major MTV VMA Winners' First Show Performances: Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna and More

Looking back at their first time on the show's stage

By Kendall Fisher Aug 26, 2016 6:49 PMTags
Rihanna, Britney Spears, BeyonceRichard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com, Lisa O'Connor/ZUMA Press

As the highly anticipated 2016 MTV Video Music Awards quickly approach this weekend, we're incredibly excited to see some of the show's biggest winners from years past take the stage once again.

For example, Britney Spears will be performing at the show for the first time in 10 years, hitting the stage with G-Eazy to perform "Make Me..." Not to mention, Rihanna will be honored with the esteemed Vanguard Award, which she'll accept with her own performance (and fingers crossed Drake joins her!). 

Other stars—like Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Eminem—may not be in attendance this year (or maybe they will!), but they still top the VMA's list for taking home the most Moon Men...ever.

With that being said, we're taking a look back at some of the biggest winners in the history of the VMAs and their first time performing at the show! Check them out below:

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Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, 1999: The Princess of Pop and her former beau, J.T. took the stage for the first time together in 1999. Brit Brit performed "Baby One More Time" before 'NSync came out and performed "Tearing Up My Heart." Yes, it quite possibly could have been the coolest performance of the '90s for any mega pop fan!

Eminem, 1999: The rapper, who has the most VMA Awards of any hip-hop artist, took the stage for the first time in 1999 to perform "Slim Shady" and "Guilty Conscious" off his debut album. He donned a blue sweatshirt with the words "Role Model" that lit up across the front...classic!

Beyoncé, 2003: Queen B had attended the VMAs many times with her Destiny's Child girls, but performed for the first time on her own in 2003. Entering the stage upside down while hanging from a rope, Bey performed "Baby Boy" and "Crazy in Love," which required Jay Z's assistance, of course!

Kanye West, 2004: Before he was stealing microphones and saying he was going to run for president, 'Ye was busy proving his rapping chops. He took the stage for the first time at the VMAs in 2004 to perform an awesome medley of "Jesus Walks," "All Falls Down," and "Through the Wire" with Chaka Khan.

Rihanna, 2007: The Bad Gal hit the stage at the popular show beside her beau at the time, Chris Brown, to perform their "Umbrella" duet. She looked smokin', as always, in a leather get-up with booty shorts, tights and a top hat.

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Musicians Performing Live on Stage

Katy Perry, 2008: Back when it all started, Ms. Perry and her cherry chapstick took the stage at the VMAs in 2008 to perform "I Kissed a Girl" with Travis Barker on the drums.

Taylor Swift, 2009: The country-turned-pop star performed for the first time at the 2009 VMAs when she sang "You Belong With Me" outside of the Radio City Music Hall.

Lady Gaga, 2009: No one will forget Mother Monster's first-ever MTV VMA performance...mostly because she started (fake) bleeding on stage while singing "Paparazzi" in 2009!

Justin Bieber, 2010: The Biebs caused some serious heart palpitations when he took the VMA stage outside of L.A. Live in 2010, after being introduced by none other than Kim Kardashian. He performed a medley of "Baby" and "Somebody to Love."

Drake, 2010: Champagne Papi also performed at the VMAs for the first time in 2010, giving an awesome live rendition of "Fancy" with Swizz Beats and Mary J. Blige

Adele, 2011: The songstress blew us away with her amazingly beautiful live performance of "Someone Like You" in 2011.

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Fashion Police: 2015 VMAs