Madonna won Artist of the Year at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sept. 27. She recalled that after a stiletto fell off during her 1984 “Like a Virgin” performance, a recovery move exposed her butt cheek; backstage, her manager told her that her career was over.
Madonna said she has spent the past year and a half finding and believing in herself and making the music she wanted. She led the ceremony with 13 nominations and opened the show with her first VMA performance in 23 years; her medley included “Bring Your Love,” her duet with Sabrina Carpenter.
