The Iconic VMAs 2003: A Look Back at the Most Memorable Moments

The Iconic VMAs 2003: A Look Back at the Most Memorable Moments

2023-08-28 06:01:06

We're Revisiting The Iconic VMAs 2003 20 Years Later

Since their launch in 1984, the MTV Video Music Awards have garnered a reputation as one of the most outrageous and unpredictable nights in music. And that was certainly the case in 2003, which wound up providing one of the most talked-about moments in pop culture history. It wasn’t all about Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera’s opening performance, though. Here’s a rundown of what made the 2003 VMAs – which took place 20 years ago today – one of the most action-packed in pop history...

Table
  1. We're Revisiting The Iconic VMAs 2003 20 Years Later
  • Let’s start on the red carpet, where Venus and Serena Williams apparently predicted the Barbenheimer trend 20 years early
  • BeyoncĂ© made one of her first major public appearances as a solo artist
  • Justin Timberlake apparently hit the red carpet straight from a job interview
  • As did a pre-Mean Girls Lindsay Lohan, for that matter
  • Credit to Kim Cattrall who absolutely turned it out on the night
  • Christina Aguilera brought a touch of Las Vegas to the New York event
  • This photo of her with the Black Eyed Peas is perhaps the most 2003 thing we’ve ever seen
  • Oh wait, maybe that honor should go to the Newlyweds themselves, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson
  • And they weren’t the only married couple turning heads on the night
  • Back on the red carpet, Kelly Osbourne and Avril Lavigne were all about two things. Rock. And, indeed, roll.
  • Meanwhile...
  • To mark the 20th VMAs, the night kicked off with a performance from Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to pay tribute to Madonna’s rendition of Like A Virgin almost two decades earlier
  • The Queen of Pop herself then joined them on stage to perform her single Hollywood
  • Oh yeah, and there was some kissing. We don’t think anyone noticed, though
  • Well, maybe one person did
  • Christina returned to the stage later in the night, going from the Queen of Pop to the Queens of Soapland with a tribute to Kat Slater and Liz McDonald
  • Oh yeah, and that’s Dave Navarro of Red Hot Chilli Peppers who joined her for a belting rendition of Fighter
  • The 2003 VMAs also marked Beyoncé’s first-ever performance as a solo artist, and let’s just say even in those days, she knew how to make an entrance
  • While it might not have been quite as polished as some of the latter-day routines BeyoncĂ© is famous for, let’s face it, a BeyoncĂ© performance is still a BeyoncĂ© performance
  • And, of course, she had a surprise guest too
  • Other performers on the night included Good Charlotte...
  • ...50 Cent and Snoop Dogg...
  • ...And Coldplay, who took the opportunity to make a political point
  • We need to talk about some of the chaotic presenting duos, too. Namely OutKast and Iggy Pop...
  • ...David Spade and the Olsen twins...
  • ...Evanescence and Sean Paul...
  • ...and Kelly Clarkson (looking ever so slightly Sarah Palin-esque) and Ludacris
  • Towards the end of the ceremony, Adam Sandler presented Video Of The Year to Missy Elliott for her Work It music video
  • Missy got her moment to shine earlier in the night when she performed Work It with Britney, Christina, and Madonna
  • Justin Timberlake picked up not one but two awards for Cry Me A River (all while his ex Britney Spears, who inspired the song, was in the audience watching)
  • BeyoncĂ© was the night’s other big winner, scooping three awards in total
  • And sticking with the nostalgic theme of the opening routine, Metallica closed the show with a chaotic mix of some of MTV’s biggest hits from the previous two decades
  • Let’s start on the red carpet, where Venus and Serena Williams apparently predicted the Barbenheimer trend 20 years early

    RJ Capak via Getty Images

    Beyoncé made one of her first major public appearances as a solo artist

    Dave Hogan via Getty Images

    Justin Timberlake apparently hit the red carpet straight from a job interview

    Evan Agostini via Getty Images

    As did a pre-Mean Girls Lindsay Lohan, for that matter

    Steve Azzara via Getty Images

    Credit to Kim Cattrall who absolutely turned it out on the night

    1693204014 835 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

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    Christina Aguilera brought a touch of Las Vegas to the New York event

    Steve Azzara via Getty Images

    This photo of her with the Black Eyed Peas is perhaps the most 2003 thing we’ve ever seen

    1693204015 407 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

    Oh wait, maybe that honor should go to the Newlyweds themselves, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson

    Jim Spellman via Getty Images

    And they weren’t the only married couple turning heads on the night

    1693204015 439 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

    Back on the red carpet, Kelly Osbourne and Avril Lavigne were all about two things. Rock. And, indeed, roll.

    Steve Azzara via Getty Images

    Meanwhile...

    Steve Azzara via Getty Images

    To mark the 20th VMAs, the night kicked off with a performance from Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to pay tribute to Madonna’s rendition of Like A Virgin almost two decades earlier

    J. Shearer via Getty Images

    Trump's Iowa Rally Fail Plunges Twitter into a Hysterical FrenzyTrump's Iowa Rally Fail Plunges Twitter into a Hysterical Frenzy

    The Queen of Pop herself then joined them on stage to perform her single Hollywood

    1693204015 8 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

    Oh yeah, and there was some kissing. We don’t think anyone noticed, though

    Kevin Kane via Getty Images

    Well, maybe one person did

    Justin Timberlake in the VMAs audience

    Christina returned to the stage later in the night, going from the Queen of Pop to the Queens of Soapland with a tribute to Kat Slater and Liz McDonald

    Kevin Kane via Getty Images

    Oh yeah, and that’s Dave Navarro of Red Hot Chilli Peppers who joined her for a belting rendition of Fighter

    1693204016 207 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

    The 2003 VMAs also marked Beyoncé’s first-ever performance as a solo artist, and let’s just say even in those days, she knew how to make an entrance

    Frank Micelotta via Getty Images

    While it might not have been quite as polished as some of the latter-day routines Beyoncé is famous for, let’s face it, a Beyoncé performance is still a Beyoncé performance

    1693204016 515 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

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    And, of course, she had a surprise guest too

    Frank Micelotta via Getty Images

    Other performers on the night included Good Charlotte...

    Scott Gries via Getty Images

    ...50 Cent and Snoop Dogg...

    50 Cent and Snoop Dogg during 2003 MTV Video Music Awards - Show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)

    ...And Coldplay, who took the opportunity to make a political point

    Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images

    We need to talk about some of the chaotic presenting duos, too. Namely OutKast and Iggy Pop...

    Iggy Pop and OutKast

    ...David Spade and the Olsen twins...

    1693204017 293 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

    ...Evanescence and Sean Paul...

    1693204017 922 Unveiling the Unforgettable Reliving the Legendary VMAs 2003 After Two - 2024 Updated

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    ...and Kelly Clarkson (looking ever so slightly Sarah Palin-esque) and Ludacris

    Kevin Kane via Getty Images

    Towards the end of the ceremony, Adam Sandler presented Video Of The Year to Missy Elliott for her Work It music video

    Christopher Polk via Getty Images

    Missy got her moment to shine earlier in the night when she performed Work It with Britney, Christina, and Madonna

    Frank Micelotta via Getty Images

    Justin Timberlake picked up not one but two awards for Cry Me A River (all while his ex Britney Spears, who inspired the song, was in the audience watching)

    Kevin Kane via Getty Images

    Beyoncé was the night’s other big winner, scooping three awards in total

    Kevin Kane via Getty Images

    And sticking with the nostalgic theme of the opening routine, Metallica closed the show with a chaotic mix of some of MTV’s biggest hits from the previous two decades

    Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images

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