Award: Taylor Swift takes top honors at MTV Video Music Awards

Taylor Swift already wore the right glitter outfit for her triumph at the MTV Video Music Awards: In a mini dress made of sparkling silver rhinestone chains, the 32-year-old singer beamed as she accepted the trophy for the video of the year.

Swift also scooped Best Director and Best Feature Music Video awards for her song “All Too Well” (Taylor’s Version) Sunday night (local time) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

13 sleepless nights

Swift then thanked her fans with a surprising announcement: she will release a new album on October 21, she told the cheering viewers. A little later, the superstar revealed more on social media. The album, titled “Midnights,” revolves around stories of 13 sleepless nights in her life.

Swift defeated Doja Cat (“Woman”), Ed Sheeran (“Shivers”), Harry Styles (“As It Was”) and Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow (“Industry Baby”) in the top category. However, rapper Harlow was constantly in the spotlight during the three-hour show. The 24-year-old opened the prize gala with his hit song “First Class” and brought Fergie onto the stage with “Glamourous”. He also ended up scooping four trophies, three with rapper Lil Nas X for their collaboration on “Industry Baby,” plus “First Class” for best “Song of the Summer.”

Rap queen Nicki Minaj shone in pink

Harlow was also on stage as a host along with his rap colleagues LL Cool J (54) and Nicki Minaj (39). There, the rap queen stole the show in her bright pink outfits. The Trinidad and Tobago-born musician not only won Best Hip-Hop Video (“Do We Have A Problem?”), she also accepted the honorary Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. It is awarded in memory of video clip pioneer Michael Jackson. Past winners include Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Madonna.

In her speech, Minaj thanked artists like Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West and Beyoncé for their inspiration and support. She wishes Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson were still here and that people understood and took mental health seriously, Minaj said.

With the “Global Icon Award”, another honorary award went to the US rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers around singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, who stood on stage with short, dyed pink hair. The Los Angeles band also scooped the rock category trophy for the video for “Black Summer.”

British star Harry Styles won the Album of the Year award for “Harry’s House,” and his single “As Is Was” also won the Pop and Best Cinematography trophies. Billie Eilish won the video award for song of the year with “Happier Than Ever”. Other award winners included Bad Bunny (Artist of the Year), Dove Cameron (New Artist), Lizzo (Video for good), Brazilian singer Anitta (Latin) and Italian rock band Måneskin for Best “Alternative Video” (“I Wanna Be Your Slave”).

Måneskin singer Damiano David showed a lot of bare skin during the band’s performance with the hit “Supermodel”. Johnny Depp then made a rather bizarre appearance as “Moonman”, the mascot of the event. His head was digitally superimposed on an astronaut helmet, and the character in the space suit hovered briefly above the stage several times.

You can hear Depp quip that he needs the work. He would do anything, including performing at birthdays and weddings. The 59-year-old Hollywood star won a broad victory in a defamation lawsuit in the United States with his ex-wife Amber Heard in early June. The jury awarded the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star high damages.

The VMA awards have been presented since 1984. Fans can vote for their favorites online. The trophy is a “Moonman” – a small astronaut on the moon holding an MTV flag.

MTV website Talyor Swift on Instagram Johnny Depp on Instagram