Russell Brand Was the Host
After hosting the 2008 award show, Brand decided to return to the big stage and give the hosting duties another go. He was also reportedly spotted flirting with Katy Perry at the 2009 show's rehearsals. The two got engaged just a few months later and tied the knot in 2010.
Katy Perry Rocked the Opening
Speaking of Perry, the singer introduced Brand to the crowd by performing "We Will Rock You" with Aerosmith's Joe Perry. After she was nominated the following year, she tweeted "I luv the VMAs, u never know what u'll get from em! I got a hubby. LOL."
Twilight's Cast Debuted Their Trailer
Whether they were Team Edward or Team Jacob, fans couldn't wait to see the The Twilight Saga: New Moon trailer at the 2009 award show. Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson were there to debut the teaser.
Lady Gaga Gave a Bloody Performance
Mother Monster entered the night with nine nominations—tying with Beyoncé for most nods of the evening. She won Best New Artist, and her "Paparazzi" video won Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects. The singer performed the hit during the show and had fake blood emerge from her costume.
Lil Mama Crashed Jay-Z & Alicia Keys' Number
The "Lip Gloss" artist interrupted the stars' "Empire State of Mind" performance. While Lil Mama told MTV she "did not mean any disrespect," she still received backlash. "It hurt," she told Complex. "It took a lot of mental strength, spiritual strength, and physical strength, not to want to hurt others, not to want to hurt myself. A person could be damn near suicidal."
Pink Sang "Sober" While Doing Aerial Acrobatics
Good thing Pink wasn't afraid of heights! The singer, whose song "So What" was up for Best Female Video, sang her hit while dangling above the audience and performing several impressive stunts.
Madonna & Janet Jackson Paid Tribute to Michael Jackson
The 2009 MTV VMAs took place just a few months after the King of Pop's death. To honor him, the "Like a Prayer" artist gave a heartfelt speech, and the "Nasty" star performed their song "Scream" while footage of her late brother played in the background.
Green Day Tied With Beyoncé & Lady Gaga for Most Wins of the Night
The band took home trophies in three categories for their "21 Guns" video—Best Rock Video, Best Cinematography and Best Direction.
Kanye West Interrupted Taylor Swift
One of the most memorable moments was when the rapper stormed the stage during the singer's acceptance speech for Best Female Video. The win was for Swift's hit "You Belong With Me" and marked her first MTV VMAs victory. However, West took the microphone and argued that "Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time."
Beyoncé Let Taylor Swift Finish Her Acceptance Speech
Later in the evening, Beyoncé won the Video of the Year award for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." During her speech, she recalled winning her first VMA and invited Swift to "have her moment." The artists shared a hug and Swift received a standing ovation as she finished her speech.