Madonna Set to Open the VMAs in Epic Return 23 Years After Britney Spears Kiss

The Queen of Pop is officially making her grand return to the stage that cemented her status as music royalty. Madonna has been announced as the opening act for the upcoming Video Music Awards on September 27 at 8 p.m. ET. The high-profile gig marks her very first time performing at the ceremony in 23 years. Her grand comeback as a performer aligns with a monumental evening for the icon's career. Riding high on the release of her album *Confessions II*, the star leads the entire roster of contenders this year with an impressive 11 nominations. Her nods include prime categories such as Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year.

When did Madonna last perform at the VMAs?

Audiences have not seen the music powerhouse perform live on the VMA stage since 2003. That broadcast instantly went down in pop culture history when she shared a headline-dominated kiss with Britney Spears during a show-stopping performance. The legend's history with the award show goes all the way back to its inauguration in 1984. She stunned viewers during that first-ever telecast by rolling across the stage in a bridal gown for "Like A Virgin." She followed that up years later in 1990 with a lavish, 18th-century French court-inspired spectacle for "Vogue."

Who else is nominated at the VMAs this year?

While the heavy-hitter dominates the nomination leaderboards, she is far from the only megastar competing for trophies. Taylor Swift trails right behind with nine nominations of her own, including nods in both the Artist of the Year and Video of the Year categories for "The Fate Of Ophelia." Additional chart-toppers securing major nominations for the upcoming ceremony include Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, and Sabrina Carpenter. Even with a stacked line-up of modern hitmakers competing throughout the evening, Madonna’s long-awaited stage return is guaranteed to be the night's most talked-about spectacle.