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Images: MTV Video Music Awards

NEW YORK — The two-hour show was tamer than past VMAs: The most shocking moment was Nicki Minaj's rump-shaking during her performance of “Anaconda” in the show's first minutes and her wardrobe malfunction when she joined Ariana Grande and Jessie J for “Bang, Bang.”

“It felt amazing to open the show, and we ran out of time getting the dress zipped up,” Minaj said backstage.

But it was Beyonce who stole the show. The diva closed the awards show with an epic nearly 20-minute performance. She was joined onstage by her beaming husband and daughter which brought her to tears, amid the numerous rumors surrounding her marriage.

Beyonce sang and danced in a metallic leotard while Blue Ivy and Jay Z watched from their seats as the diva declared: “MTV, welcome to my world.”

As Beyonce accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award at The Forum in Inglewood, California, she kissed her daughter and husband Jay Z, who called her the “greatest living entertainer.”

“I'm so full. I have nothing to say, but I am filled with so much gratitude,” she told the cheering crowd as they chanted her name repeatedly.

Taylor Swift was a crowd favorite when she performed her new single “Shake It Off” in shimmery shorts and a crop top. She got to the top of the stage, and as her tuxedoed male background dancers stood with their arms wide open waiting for Swift to jump she said, “One second. I don't care if it's the VMAs. I'm not jumping off there.”

She continued: “It's all kinds of people getting bitten by snakes. Dangerous.”

Grande kicked off the show with a performance of her EDM hit, “Break Free” in a Beyonce-inspired leotard. The 21-year-old won best pop video for her smash single “Problem,” but lost best female video to Katy Perry, who won for the hit “Dark Horse.”

Lorde won best rock video for “Royals” and Ed Sheeran won best male video, beating out Pharrell, Eminem, John Legend and Sam Smith, who was a show highlight with his smoldering performance of his hit “Stay With Me.”\

Iggy Azalea and Ora appeared onstage as spider women when they performed their hit “Black Widow,” as Swift, Lorde and Charli XCX danced and sang along.

Images: Best & Worst Dressed at VMAs

Ashton Irwin, from left, Calum Hood, Luke Hemmings and Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds of Summer arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
Pre-show host actress and singer Lucy Hale arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
Place holders for musicians Gwen Stefani, front row left, and Taylor Swift, front row right, are displayed during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Press Preview Day at the Forum on Thursday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
Jessie J arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
"Modern Family" actress Sarah Hyland arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
"Problem" singer Ariana Grande arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
Olivia Culpo, left, and Nick Jonas arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
Victoria Justice arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Associated Press/Invision
Associated Press/Invision "Orange Is the New Black" actress Laverne Cox arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
What is there to say about Amber Rose's VMAs get up? Other than yikes? Nothing. Associated Press/Invision
Jordin Sparks, left, and Jason Derulo offer up some sweet PDA on the red carpet at the VMAs. Associated Press/Invision
Sam Smith arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Smith would later perform his hit "Stay With Me." Associated Press/Invision
Gwen Stefani arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum. Associated Press/Invision
Nicki Minaj arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
Taylor Swift, who rarely makes a fashion misstep, turns out for the VMAs in a tiny romper. Associated Press/Invision
Ed Sheeran arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Adam Levine, left, and Behati Prinsloo arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Gwen Stefani arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Miley Cyrus arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jennifer Lopez arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
Iggy Azalea arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
Usher arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards, Associated Press/Invision
Demi Lovato arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Actress Chloe Grace Moretz arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Kim Kardashian, who would later introduce a performance by Sam Smith, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Taylor Swift and her romper walk the VMAs red carpet. Associated Press/Invision
Kendall Jenner, from left, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
"The Vampire Diaries" star Nina Dobrev arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jessie J performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Charli XCX performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Gwen Stefani arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Ariana Grande, who would go on to win best pop vidoe for "Problem," performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Maroon 5 arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Usher has a little fun on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Rita Ora arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Ariana Grande, from left, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj perform at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jennifer Lopez arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
Kelly Rowland shows off her baby bump as she walks the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Associated Press/Invision
Katy Perry sports a denim ensemble on the red carpet at MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
"Orange Is the New Black" star Taylor Schilling arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
"Orange Is the New Black" star Uzo Aduba arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Aduba would present with her castmates Taylor Schilling and Laverne Cox. Associated Press/Invision
Lucy Hale who was handling pre-show duties takes a moment to pose for the cameras with Miley Cyrus. Associated Press/Invision
Ariana Grande, who would go on to win a moon man of her own, performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Taylor Swift performs her new single "Shake It Off" at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jessie J performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Nicki Minaj ditches the snakes for this performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani present an award for best female video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Sam Smith pulls of a powerhouse performance of his hit "Stay With Me" at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Katy Perry, right, and Juicy J accept the award for Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Taylor Swift performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jim Carrey presents the award for Best Pop Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jim Carrey, left, and Jeff Daniels present the award for Best Pop Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Usher performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Ariana Grande poses with her award for Best Pop Video in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
"Orange Is the New Black" stars Uzo Aduba, from left, Laverne Cox and Taylor Schilling speak at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Juicy J, featured in Katy Perry's song "Dark Horse," poses in the press room with the award for Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Emil Nava, left, and Ed Sheeran pose with the award for Best Male Video Award in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards Associated Press/Invision
Lorde accepts the award for Best Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Nicki Minaj poses in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Lorde poses in the press room with the award for Best Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Miley Cyrus poses with the award for Video of the Year in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jessie J poses in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Michael Clifford, from left, Ashton Irwin, Luke Hemmings and Calum Hood of 5 Seconds of Summer perform at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jennifer Lopez performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Iggy Azalea performs onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Emil Nava, left, and Ed Sheeran arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Iggy Azalea performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Fifth Harmony poses with the award for Artist to Watch in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce accepts the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. Looking on from left is Blue Ivy and Jay-Z. Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce accepts the Video Vanguard Award with Blue Ivy and Jay-Z at left during the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce performs at the MTV Video Music Awards before receiving the Video Vanguard Award. Associated Press/Invision
Lorde accepts the Best Rock Video award at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce performs during her 20-minute set Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Nina Dobrev, left, and Trey Songz present the award for Best Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce accepts the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Miley Cyrus, left, accepts the award for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
A tribute to Robin Williams appears on screen at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jason Derulo, left, and Demi Lovato speak at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Jimmy Fallon presents the award for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Nicki Minaj performs "Anaconda" at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Iggy Azalea performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Beyonce performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Iggy Azalea, left, and Rita Ora perform "Black Widow" at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
Normani Hamilton, from left, Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane Hansen, Ally Brooke and Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony accept the award for Artist to Watch at the MTV Video Music Awards. Associated Press/Invision
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