As the summer nears the end, the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards get closer with each day. The show will air live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, for the first time, on Sunday, Aug 28 at 9:00 p.m. However, what you may not have known is that the MTV Video Music Awards’ highest honor will be awarded to none other than Ms. Robyn Fenty herself. That is correct! Rihanna will be given the honor this year and rightfully so! Thursday (Aug. 11), MTV announced that 28-year-old will receive the award at this year’s show. Along with this award, the Barbados babe will also grace the MTV VMA stage!
This has truly been Rihanna’s year. She has many credentials to prove so as the list is endless. Besides being one of the most decorative, ostentatious, bold artists in the fashion world, Rihanna has accomplished so much! She created one of the most talked about, successful, innovative, unique albums of the year, ANTI; she has sold out arenas worldwide with her enormous ANTI World Tour; she is also the new creative director & brand ambassador for Puma and the first black woman to be the face of one of the hugest fashion companies in the world, Dior; she created the Clara Lionel Foundation, which helps to improve the quality of living in global communities in the areas of health, education, arts & culture, and let’s also not forget that Rihanna’s talents will expand to television sets as well as she will be a part of the Bates Motel cast in the coming year. Now she can add receiving 2016’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award to the resume as well! Moral of the story, Rihanna can do just about any/everything she desires.
In regards to her latest accomplishment (for now), Rihanna will join the list of other successful artists who have received this honor such as: Beyoncé, Kanye West, Janet Jackson Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and Justin Timberlake! Following the monumental announcement, the pop sensation took to Twitter to express her happiness and honor in receiving the award. “Honored to take the #VMAs stage as your video #VANGUARD award recipient LIVE from NYC on August 28!”
If unfamiliar with what the history of the award is, MTV states that the first Vanguard Awards were actually given out in 1984, at the inaugural Video Music Awards three years after MTV hit the air. Also, during this time Michael Jackson was actually not associated with the award. According to the Inquisitor, “Beginning at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, the network renamed their highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The move made sense at the time considering anyone eligible for a Moon Man was more or less trying, and failing, to best Michael’s expertise of the promotional asset.” The award took a break between 2006 and 2011 before returning to the show again. The award / honor is presented to artists and musicians “who have made a profound effect on the MTV culture, honoring an artist’s body of work.” Again, who else than RiRi to receive the honor this year?
People Magazine states, “The accolade pays tribute to her decade-long impact on music, pop culture, fashion, film and philanthropy.” Rihanna’s influence on music and videos is simply amazing. She has won eight Grammys, two VMA Awards (which so happens to both be Video of the Year awards for 2007’s “Umbrella and 2012’s “We Found Love”), 14 Billboard Music Awards (and so much more), scored 14 No. 1 singles on the Billboard charts, and sold over 50+ million albums and even more tracks worldwide, all before the age of 30.
She has done things in videos that really have not been mirrored or reciprocated. She has always been known to create profound visuals that are just as powerful as the songs. The pop star has wowed us with many years of astounding, amazing music videos. From 2007’s dark, stimulating visuals in “Umbrella” to the sparkling, chaotic visuals presented in her 2011 “We Found Love” collaboration hit with Calvin Harris, her wildly entertaining, boss, drama-filled 2015 “Bi*** Betta Have My Money” short film to this year’s sexy, stunning, dancehall “Work” video, Rihanna has displayed her artistic expertise for many years. Her YouTube page has generated over 9.6 billion views! Talk about a superstar!
With each era of her music, she grows in artistic ability. She is also one of the most consistent artists of our time. Her presence will never fade away as she has already left such a massive mark in the world. And this is just the beginning for the young talented superstar. Rihanna will continue to wow her fans with her beauty, talent, and skill for many years to come.
Now that we all know who will be receiving this award, the next question that comes to mind is, what will Rihanna be wearing to the VMAs this year? Looks like you will just have to tune in to the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, August 28 to see! Congrats on such a terrific honor and an even greater year RiRi!
Queen Rhianna rocked it tonight. we all need to bow down before her. Wow!!!!