Benson Boone sings “Beautiful Things” at the VMAs

Benson Boone has lit up the charts—and fashion blogs—all year with his breakout hit “Beautiful Things” and his unique fashion sense, so it was no surprise that the mustachioed Washington crooner, whose penchant for sleeveless denim vests and sheer shirts inspired the edgy “What to Wear with Benson Boone?” TikTok and Pinterest pages, brought the looks to the 2024 MTV VMAs on Wednesday (Sept. 11).

Seated at a black grand piano, Boone delivered a stirring rendition of his breakthrough No. 2 hit “Beautiful Things” on the Billboard Hot 100, crooning the ballad from his debut studio album. Fireworks & Rollerbladeswith a passion – and fashion – reminiscent of Elton John in the 1970s. As he stood to walk across the stage, Boone revealed he was wearing an all-sparkly blue belted one-piece cut out to his belly button, reinforcing his simultaneously understated yet striking style.

Boone, who was nominated for four awards at this year's VMAs, climbed atop a podium in matching blue glitter Adidas shoes while his band was still rocking the song and performed a perfect forward flip without missing a beat to cheers from fans, whose outstretched hands he clapped as he walked on stage.

Launching into a rousing crescendo that had Sabrina Carpenter singing along from her seat, Boone jumped on his piano and played the rousing chorus, “Please stay/ I want you, I need you, oh God/ Don't take/ These beautiful things that I have” in his falsetto voice as sparks rained down around him. Not satisfied with all the glitter and gold, Boone performed another perfect flip off the piano and hit another sky-high note while improvising the perfect closing lyric: “I need… the VMAs!!!”