Madonna Returns to Open the VMAs After 23 Years

Madonna returned to the MTV Video Music Awards stage for the first time in 23 years, opening the show with Sabrina Carpenter on “Bring Your Love.” The performance also featured dancers, Charli XCX appearing for a remix of Madonna’s Confessions II track “Danceteria,” and cameos from Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, Sombr, and Seth Rogen.

Later in the night, Madonna and Carpenter won Best Collaboration. In her acceptance speech, Madonna said she had DM’d Carpenter after waiting several days to hear back about working together, and that the two later recorded the song in the studio. She also joked that they write lyrics on paper, “like they did in the 1800s.”

Madonna entered the 2025 VMAs as the year’s most-nominated artist with 13 nominations, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Album, all tied to Confessions II. It is the third time she has led the nominations. Her last VMAs opening performance was in 2003, when she performed with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.