Video Vanguard Award Winners Over the Years: Who Has Won at Past VMAs?

madonna katy perry brittany spears mtv vanguard winners — Image Credit: Getty Images

MTV presented Katy Perry with the Video Vanguard Award at this year’s Video Music Awards, an honor made even more special by being presented by her longtime partner, Orlando Bloom.

Perry now joins a prestigious list of honorees, including Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and other legendary artists like David Bowie—the first recipient of the award at the inaugural VMAs in 1984. In 1991, the network renamed the coveted award, which is not presented every year, to honor Michael Jackson, who received the Moon Person in 1988.

At the 36th annual VMAs, Missy Elliott made history as the first female rap artist to accept the Vanguard Award, while Shakira became the first South American artist to receive the honor at the 2023 ceremony.

From the first recipient to the most recent, here’s a look at the history of past Video Vanguard Award winners.

1. David Bowie (1984)

CIRCA 1984: Musician David Bowie performing onstage in circa 1984. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Bowie took home the very first MTV Video Vanguard Award in 1984 at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards. The ceremony also included a special mention of The Beatles and director Richard Lester for their contributions to music videos over the years.

2. David Byrne (1985)

Los Angeles - CIRCA 1985: David Byrne of Talking Heads poses for a portrait circa 1985 in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images) — Los Angeles – CIRCA 1985: David Byrne of Talking Heads poses for a portrait circa 1985 in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images)

David Byrne took home the Vanguard Award in 1985. The former Talking Heads frontman shared the honor with rock duo Godley & Creme as well as Russell Mulcahy, who notably directed “Video Killed the Radio Star.”

3. Madonna (1986)

Madonna (Photo by Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage)

Madonna made history as the first woman to take home a Vanguard Award in 1986. The singer shared the honor with music video director Zbigniew Rybczyński.

4. Peter Gabriel (1987)

Peter Gabriel, Torhout/Werchter Festival, Werchter, Belgium, 5th June 1987. (Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images)

Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel was honored with the award in 1987 alongside British director Julien Temple, who contributed to various music videos by David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and the Sex Pistols.

5. Michael Jackson (1988)

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: US singer Michael Jackson makes a peace sign at the MTV Video Music Awards 29 August, 2002 in New York after receiving the Performer of the Millennium Award. Jackson, who is due to appear in court 16 January 2003 on child sex abuse charges, earned the title "King of Pop" with the best-selling album ever -- but his star has waned considerably in the two decades since then. Jackson, is to be arraigned on seven counts that include lewd acts against a 14-year-old boy. He has to declare whether he is innocent or guilty after Santa Barbara prosecutors filed the charges against him on 18 December. AFP PHOTO/TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: US singer Michael Jackson makes a peace sign at the MTV Video Music Awards 29 August, 2002 in New York after receiving the Performer of the Millennium Award. AFP PHOTO/TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Jackson was the winner of the Vanguard Award in 1988, a year after the release of his seventh studio album Bad.

6. George Michael (1989)

George Michael (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

7. Janet Jackson (1990)

Janet Jackson accepts an award at the 1995 MTV Music Awards. (Photo by Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

Janet Jackson was awarded the Vanguard Award in 1990 at just 24 years old. She remains the youngest person to ever receive the honor.

8. Bon Jovi (1991)

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 5: Bon Jovi at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards at in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) — LOS ANGELES – SEPTEMBER 5: Bon Jovi at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards at in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

In 1991, Bon Jovi took home the award alongside Wayne Isham, who directed a handful of the band’s notable music videos.

9. Guns N’ Roses (1992)

Axl Rose and Slash (Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage)

10. The Rolling Stones (1994)

Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The Rolling Stones took home the Vanguard Award in 1994, sharing the honor with Tom Petty.

11. R.E.M (1995)

R.E.M. at the MTV Video Music Awards '95 In New York. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) — R.E.M. at the MTV Video Music Awards ’95 In New York. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

12. LL Cool J (1997)

LL Cool J during 1997 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

In 1997, LL Cool J became the first hip-hop artist to take home a Vanguard Award. He shared the honor with director Mark Romenek, who notably directed Janet and Michael Jackson’s video for “Scream.”