Taylor Swift ties with Beyonce after sweeping VMAs

Taylor Swift's awards at the VMAs included artist of the year and song of summer. (AP PHOTO)

Pop megastar Taylor Swift has taken home seven trophies at MTV's Video Music Awards, tying her with Beyonce for the most lifetime honours in the 40-year history of the video accolades.

Swift snagged the top prize, video of the year, for her bleak, black-and-white video Fortnight featuring Post Malone.

It shows Swift inside a bare psychiatric hospital, a setting she said reflected what she was seeing in her head as she wrote the music for The Tortured Poets Department album.

Taylor Swift and Post Malone embrace as they accept VMAs for Fortnight
Taylor Swift and Post Malone showered each other with praise as they won for Fortnight.

"This video seems very sad when you watch it, but it actually was the most fun video to make," Swift said on Wednesday as she accepted the VMAs Moon Person statuette.

After each take, she would hear a cheer from someone across the studio.

"That one person was my boyfriend Travis," she said, referring to Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce.

"Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic.

"I want to thank him for adding that to this shoot."

Chappell Roan performs Good Luck, Babe at the VMAs
Good Luck, Babe singer Chappell Roan was named best new artist at the VMAs.

Swift also thanked her fans for voting for the VMA honours and urged them to cast their ballots in the US presidential election.

The singer endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in an Instagram post on Tuesday, but she did not mention the candidate by name on Wednesday.

By night's end, the 34-year-old Swift brought her career VMA total to 30, on par with hip-hop artist Beyonce.

Swift's other awards on Wednesday included artist of the year and song of summer.

Her video of the year award was her third in a row following an extended version of All Too Well in 2022 and Anti-Hero" in 2023, and fifth overall, a record for one artist.

Eminem performs Houdini during the MTV Video Music Awards
Eminem opened the awards show with Houdini from album The Death of Slim Shady.

Early in the show, when Fortnight won best collaboration, Swift praised Malone as "ridiculously talented" and "unfailingly polite".

"It has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ma'am," she said next to Malone on stage at the UBS Arena outside New York City.

Malone returned the compliments, calling Swift "absolutely one of the most kind and talented people I've ever had the honour of knowing".

The VMAs began airing on MTV in 1984 and became known for memorable moments, such as an onstage kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears, and the raw meat dress that Lady Gaga once wore on the red carpet.

At Wednesday's awards, Good Luck, Babe singer Chappell Roan was named best new artist.

Katy Perry performs during the MTV Video Music Awards
Katy Perry performed on a futuristic stage while singing hits from Teenage Dream to Firework.

Wearing a metallic outfit and headpiece, she dedicated her award to "all the drag artists who inspire me" and to her fans in the gay community.

Blackpink singer Lisa won best K-pop video for her solo hit, Rockstar.

South African artist Tyla claimed the Afrobeats award for Water, and Brazilian singer Anitta snagged best Latin video for Mil Veces.

Rapper Eminem opened the show with Houdini from album The Death of Slim Shady before country singer Jelly Roll joined him via a video feed for their hit Somebody Save Me.

Katy Perry, recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, sang hits from Teenage Dream to Firework while wearing giant silver butterfly wings on a futuristic set.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store