The MTV Video Music Awards took place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sunday night, with Doja Cat hosting the ceremony and music’s biggest stars vying for those famed Moonperson statues.

The night’s big winner was Lil Nas X, who took home multiple awards, including the coveted Video of the Year trophy as well as honors for Best Direction and Best Visual Effects, all for his single “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” The artist dedicated his Video of the Year statute to “the gay agenda,” a cheeky, layered reference to the queer-positive imagery and messaging he’s presented with his recent singles.

Other winners included Olivia Rodrigo, who won Best New Artist and Song of the Year (for “Drivers License”); Justin Bieber, who won both Artist of the Year and Best Pop, for his song “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon; Billie Eilish, who won Video for Good for her ballad “Your Power”; BTS, who won Group of the Year; and Travis Scott, who won Best Hip-Hop for “Franchise” (featuring Young Thug & M.I.A.).

Bieber returned to perform on the VMAs stage for the first time since his emotional breakdown in 2015. After joining the Kid Laroi for a rendition of their hit single “Stay,” he sang “Ghost” off his recent solo album Justice. Meanwhile, Chloe Bailey, older half of sister R&B duo Chloe x Halle, proved she’s a real boss with her debut solo performance, making the audience beg for more with her new single, “Have Mercy.”

Lil Nas X made his own grand comeback alongside rapper Jack Harlow. The pair performed their new hit “Industry Baby,” mirroring the viral music video that showed them locked up in Montero State Prison. Nas came out dressed in full drum-major regalia and conducted the song’s blaring horns before rapping his verse shirtless with backup dancers portraying inmates. They eventually all ended up in nothing more than sparkly pink bottoms.

And speaking of bottoms, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez made separate cameos at the start of the event, toasting MTV for its 40th anniversary. Clad in leather, the former shared her story of first coming to New York City at the age of 19 and being dropped off by a cab driver at the “center” of it all: in Times Square, home of MTV headquarters. After declaring, “We’re still here, motherf—ers,” the Queen of Pop turned to exit the stage, flaunting a substantial portion of her backside.

Other highlights: Normani delivered a show-stopping performance of “Wild Side” that nodded to both Aaliyah and Janet Jackson. In a touching moment, before Foo Fighters accepted their Global Icon Award, the band paid tribute to late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts during a medley of their hits in which drummer Taylor Hawkins’ kit blazed the message “Charlie, RIP.”