The MTV VMA Awards: The top 7 moments

Rapper Jay Z and singer Beyonce with daughter Blue Ivy Carter onstage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California. Mark Davis / Getty Images / AFPShow more

Queen Bey

Beyonce not only stole the show at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night, she used the moment to erase the cloud around her family with an adorable appearance by daughter Blue Ivy and one by doting husband Jay Z to finish off the night.

“MTV, welcome to my world,” Beyonce said.

Her performance was mesmerising television, from the seemingly endless medley of hits to the public’s extended look at Blue Ivy, who wore a gold hair bow and clapped her hands saying “Yea, Mommy,” after Jay Z carried her onstage while presenting her mother with MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.

Nicki all night

Much of the focus prior to Beyonce's arrival was on Nicki Minaj. She helped open the show with a snake-themed performance of Anaconda that included a lot of attention on Minaj's most jiggly asset – her rear end. Then after a wardrobe malfunction during her subsequent team up with Ariana Grande and Jessie J – "We ran out of time getting the dress zipped up", she said afterward – things got really booty-centric when she joined Usher on stage for She Came to Give It to You. Usher dropped to his knee while playing the bass then banged his head against her rear end in a new version of the bump.

The front row

You've got to feel bad for Riff Raff. The Houston rapper arrived on the red carpet in a Lamborghini with Katy Perry in the passenger seat. But it was clear she was way more into pop star Sam Smith, spending the night with his arm draped over his shoulder. Other unexpected pairs along the front row included Taylor Swift and Lorde, who celebrated their friendship by dancing the night away together. Lorde even introduced Swift's performance of Shake It Off.

Sam slays it

Perry wasn't the only attendee fixated on Smith. The VMAs have a reputation for over-the-top moments, and there were plenty. But the quiet, commanding performance of Stay With Me by the British singer drew the night's first – and most sincere – standing ovation.

MTV against racial tension

The VMAs aren’t known for political statements, but some of Sunday’s most memorable moments came with messages. Common asked for a moment of silence to remember 18-year-old Michael Brown, killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri: “The people in Ferguson and St. Louis and communities across the country have used their voices to call for justice and change to let everyone know that each and every one of our lives matters.” The camera showed members of the crowd with heads bowed, including Snoop Dogg.

Miley gets real

Miley Cyrus engineered her own powerful statement when she sent a homeless youth named Jesse to the stage to accept her video of the year award. He gave an impassioned speech asking viewers to help as Cyrus tearfully looked on. “Thank y’all, my name is Jesse and I accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know this because I am one of these people,” he said. “Though I may have been invisible to you in the streets, I have a lot of the same dreams that brought many of you here tonight.”

We are family

The tenor of the night changed when Beyonce took the stage. She led a thousands in a singalong on XO that included most everyone giddily dancing. And she didn't waste the moment, batting away persistent rumors that her marriage is headed for divorce. "I am filled with so much gratitude," Beyonce said as the crowd chanted her name. She turned to her family and said, "I just thank God for this moment. I love you all so much. Blue, I love you. My beloved, I love you."

*Associated Press