Madonna laughs off 1984 VMAs wardrobe mishap in acceptance speech

Madonna took home Artist of the Year at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday and used her speech to look back at her very first VMAs appearance. 

The Queen of Pop, 68, began by thanking her fingers "because I can always count on them."

She then reminded the crowd of her performance to Like a Virgin at her first-ever VMAs in 1984, during which one of her stilettos fell off mid-performance, and her attempt to look "cute and sexy" while recovering ended with her butt cheek falling out. 

"In those days, butt cheeks were not hanging out," she said. "And I went backstage feeling really proud of myself, and my manager told me that my career was over."

Looking at where she is now, Madonna said she has spent the last year and a half "finding myself, believing in myself, and really making the music that I wanted to make." 

She added, "That really is the definition of being an artist," and hoped everyone in the room would spend the rest of their lives doing the same.

She beat Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift for the award.

It was a big night for the Vogue singer, who led the show with 13 nominations. 

She opened the ceremony with her first VMA performance in 23 years, a medley that included Bring Your Love, her duet with Carpenter. She also performed Danceteria Afterhours with Charli xcx.