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Katy Perry accepts VMA Vanguard Award and delivers a medley of hits: WATCH

A cotton candy A career full of hits becomes a futuristic, post-apocalyptic dream. At the VMAs on Wednesday night, Katy Perry took the stage to perform a medley of her biggest hits (and her new album, 143) as she celebrated the coveted Video Vanguard Award.

Perry's performance began with a montage of her best videos. She began her medley of hits by floating in the center of a circle while singing “Dark Horse.” Perry wore a futuristic, alien-looking top as she flew over the crowd and was brought to the ground.

Perry continued to fly through the crowd, landing only for a choreography before segueing into a performance of “ET,” nodding to the VMAs' space theme.

Then Perry – clad in a nude camisole – joined Doechii to promote their new single “I'm His, He's Mine,” which was released Friday. They performed on a futuristic, see-through stage. Doechii rapped her catchy verse and twerked next to Perry before the two nearly shared a kiss.

“Where are all my 'California Gurls?'” Perry continued, recreating her moment at the 2015 Super Bowl halftime show when she asked the crowd to “sing it” after the classic song's opening line. She continued the hits with a rendition of “Teenage Dream” while sliding down a platform that had the name of her upcoming album written on it. 143After “Teenage Dream” Perry moved to One of the boys“I Kissed a Girl” while wearing metallic butterfly wings as she walked to a side stage backed by a rock band reminiscent of her Warped Tour days.

The pop star then slowed down and sang “Firework” while drone-controlled blue butterflies – a theme from 143 – flew around her. Perry then picked up the tempo as she strutted through the crowd to sing “Lifetimes,” surrounded by her dancers while holding up a giant blue butterfly.

“Thank you to MTV for believing in my craziness from day one and helping artists expand their worlds beyond a song,” Perry said onstage. “There are so many things that have to come together to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decades-long coincidences.”

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Perry thanked her team and family for their support and praised MySpace, Warped Tour and the “past places” on the internet where she had built her community.

“Thank you to the friends who were there when my Jetta was repossessed, to my KatyCats who have stood by me throughout my life, and to the LGBTQ community who I wouldn't be here without and who showed me that you can be kind and an asshole at the same time,” she added. “Thank you to Orlando for keeping me grounded, partying and doing the dishes. And finally, for my Daisy, the only flowers I'll ever need.”

Perry shared her enthusiasm for the new generation of artists who approach their music with “confidence, drive and authenticity.”

“One of the main reasons I'm standing here now is because I've learned to block out all the moles that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women,” Perry said. “I just want to say from the bottom of my heart: do whatever it takes to be true to yourself and your art. Turn off social media and take care of your mental health.”

“Pause. Touch the grass,” she continued. “Do what you were born to do, like I was born to do this.”

Perry's husband Orlando Bloom introduced the singer on stage as the two shared a long hug. “I fell in love with her as Kathryn Hudson. You know her as a global superstar who brings love, light and her unique sense of humor to every song she writes,” Bloom said at her introduction. “I know her as a mother, as a partner who brings that same love and joy to our family in moments when we need it most.”

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Taylor Swift was spotted in the crowd standing up and clapping for her former rival, now friend. Although it was hinted at in the introduction to her set, Perry skipped “Woman's World.”

Perry was announced as the Vanguard Award recipient last month, with Paramount executive Bruce Gillmer calling her a “true pop culture icon” and a “global phenomenon.” In addition to the Vanguard Moon Person, she is also nominated for the VMA award for Most Iconic Performance for “Roar” in 2013, which puts her up against historic performances by Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.

Over the years, Perry has won five Moon Persons. In 2011, she won Video of the Year for “Firework” and the awards for Best Collaboration and Best Special Effects for “ET” with Kanye West. In 2012, she took home the trophy for Best Art Direction for “Wide Awake” and in 2014, she won Best Female Video for “Dark Horse” with Juicy J.

Perry joins a long list of icons to receive the coveted trophy. Shakira won the award in 2023, Nicki Minaj won it in 2022, while Missy Elliott took home the prize in 2019.

Artists who took the stage at this year's VMAs included Camila Cabello, Anitta, Benson Boone, Halsey, Chappell Roan, Karol G, Rauw Alejandro and Sabrina Carpenter.

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The Vanguard Award will be presented to her one week before the release of her sixth album. 143which will feature Kim Petras, Doechii and 21 Savage. The LP got off to a whirlwind start following the release of “Woman's World” in July. It was quickly followed by “Lifetimes” earlier this month.

The 2024 Video Music Awards will be broadcast live on MTV from the UBS Arena in Long Island.

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