Britney Spears Was In every single place on the 2024 VMAs

It was a pop tragedy when Britney Spears, alongside Madonna and Christina Aguilera, misplaced to Katy Perry for the Most Iconic Efficiency on the 2024 Video Music Awards Wednesday evening (Sept. 11).

Perry, who was deservedly honored with the Video Vanguard award this 12 months, beat out the extra objectively iconic performances in her class — together with Madonna’s 1984 “Like a Virgin,” Girl Gaga‘s bloody 2009 “Paparazzi” — along with her 2013 efficiency of “Roar.” (Do not come for me, fellow Katy Cats: It was a great efficiency, sure! However nowhere close to as zeitgeist-stirring because the aforementioned ones, we should admit.)

Maybe much more tragic and baffling, Spears’ iconic solo efficiency of “I am a Slave 4 U” on the 2001 VMAs wasn’t even nominated within the class.

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Nonetheless, regardless of Spears’ efficiency not being nominated, and Spears not even being on the present this 12 months (not that she was anticipated to), the reigning Princess of Pop’s lasting mark was throughout MTV’s annual awards present tonight.

The Holy Spearit was first resurrected on the crimson carpet earlier than the present even kicked off, when pop artist Tate McRae — herself a loyal Spears fan and who was even just lately interviewed by Spears — paid homage to Britney in a lacy black look extremely paying homage to the “Womanizer” singer’s 2001 Dolce & Gabbana VMAs crimson carpet costume.

Presenter and pop artist Addison Rae, whose personal music and profession has been likened to Spears, additionally confirmed her love for Spears earlier than the awards present.

Throughout a pre-show interview, Rae gushed over Britney’s VMAs appears over time. “She is an icon,” Rae stated, notably shouting out the singer’s 2000 cowl efficiency of Rolling Stones’ “(I Cannot Get No) Satisfaction.”

Spears was additionally closely referenced throughout a VMAs fortieth anniversary promo when host Megan Thee Stallion got here out in a fancy dress paying tribute to Spears’ legendary 2001 “I am a Slave 4 U” efficiency outfit, full with a dwell snake wrapped round her arms.

Megan did not final lengthy due to her slithery good friend, sadly, nevertheless it’s no query Spears’ jungle-themed 23-year outdated efficiency stays one of the vital iconic moments within the historical past of the VMAs — in addition to one of the vital iconic moments within the historical past of in style leisure, interval.

Afterward, Britney was lovingly referenced but once more when fellow blonde pop princess and former Disney darling Sabrina Carpenter included Spears’ cheeky “Oops!… I Did It Once more” monologue in the beginning of her space-themed efficiency, which additionally nodded to Britney’s “Oops!…” music video with its astronauts and general intergalactic aesthetic.

Whether or not she’s acting on stage or not, being honored with an award or not, Britney Spears’ is an inimitable, omnipresent pressure — on the MTV VMAs, within the leisure trade, and in popular culture at massive.

In any case: She’s Britney, bitch.