MANCHESTER, England (AP) 鈥� Taylor Swift came out on top at the 2024 MTV EMAs on Sunday, walking away with best artist, best U.S. act, best live act and best video for 鈥淔ortnight鈥� (featuring Post Malone).
Swift, who is finishing up her Eras tour on the other side of the Atlantic, thanked the fans for the bounty of prizes via video message.
The U.K. show opened with an acrobatic Benson Boone suspended in the air on a gold grand piano performing his viral hit 鈥淏eautiful Things鈥� and latest release 鈥淪low it Down.鈥� Boone also accepted his first EMA for best new act.
South African newcomer Tyla gave Swift a run for her money picking up three awards for best afrobeats, best R&B and best African act.
Tyla performed her smash hit 鈥淲ater鈥� for the EMA audience at the Co-op Live, Manchester, flanked by a host of dancers, as well as singing energetic new track 鈥淧ush 2 Start.鈥�
British singer Rita Ora, who hosted the show for a record third time, paid tribute to former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died last month after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires.
Ora had a close relationship with the singer and the pair recorded a song together in 2018, 鈥淔or You (Fifty Shades Freed).鈥� She addressed the audience saying, 鈥淚 want to take a moment to remember someone. Liam Payne was one of the kindest people I knew.鈥� Her voice broke as she asked the crowd to take a moment to remember Liam saying, 鈥淗e had the biggest heart and he left such a mark on this world.鈥�
Hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes was awarded the EMAs global icon award from British rapper Little Simz telling the crowd that in 34 years of professionally recording this was his first award from MTV and it felt incredible. The 12-time nominee, who has more than 10 million album sales under his belt, performed a mega medley of his greatest hits 鈥淏reak ya Neck,鈥� 鈥淭ouch it鈥� and 鈥淧ut Your Hands Where the Eyes can See鈥� accompanied by dancers wearing tracksuits with giant dragon heads.
Shawn Mendes gave an intimate and heartfelt performance and also received the award for best Canadian act. Sabrina Carpenter picked up the honors for best song for her hit 鈥淓spresso,鈥� while Ariana Grande was crowned best pop act and Eminem took away best hip hop act.
U.K. duo Pet Shop Boys were honored with the inaugural Pop Pioneers Award for their contribution to pop music and closed out the show accompanied by local orchestra Manchester Camerata with a cover of David Bowie鈥檚 鈥淎ll the Young Dudes鈥� followed by their iconic hit 鈥淲est End Girls鈥� in celebration of the song鈥檚 40th anniversary.
Other performers on the night included K-Pop quintet Le Sserafim, Mexican singer and rapper Peso Pluma, English singer and songwriter Raye, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Mendes, American powerhouse Teddy Swims, Mexican rock sisters the Warning.
LL Cool J, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, mother-and-daughter musicians Neneh Cherry and Mabel and TV and film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Turner-Smith and Lucien Laviscount all presented awards.
Louise Dixon, The Associated Press
