Katy Perry Performs Medley of Hits and Receives Video Vanguard Award ‘on the First Day of My Period’ at the 2024 MTV VMAs

Katy Perry is a true superstar.

The 39-year-old pop visionary received the Video Vanguard Award at the 2024 MTV VMAs on Wednesday (September 11), giving her a title that only artists like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, David Bowie, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna can say they’ve been awarded.

Before taking the stage for an unforgettable performance, Perry’s fiancé Orlando Bloom introduced the former American Idol judge by calling her a “global superstar who brings love, light and her unique sense of humor to every music video she creates,” while giving us insight on the woman that he knows, Katheryn Hudson. “I know her as a mother, as a partner, who brings that same love and joy to our family in moments when we most needed it,” he confessed.

“Her music and remarkable world she creates brought a sense of joy and laughter, inspiring generations of people from all over the world. Congratulations on this honor, baby, I’m so proud of you,” he continued.

Katy kicked off her medley performance by flying over the stage at New York’s UBS Arena amid a laser light show singing “Dark Horse.” She followed with hits like “E.T.,” “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “I Kissed A Girl,” “Firework” and more. She also performed her new song “I’m His, He’s Mine” with doechii, which is set to be release this Friday (September 13) and is expected to be featured on her forthcoming album 143, set to drop next Friday (September 20). The nearly 10-minute set featured a ton of visuals, floating butterflies, and all of the “weirdness” that Katy brings when performing.

After receiving a standing ovation to an arena filled with music’s biggest celebs, Katy revealed that she delivered her performance under extreme circumstances.

“I did that all on the first day of my period, and couldn’t believe it,” she said.

She then went on to thank MTV for “believing in my weirdness from day one,” her KatyCats, the LGBTQ+ community, her team, Bloom and her daughter Daisy Dove.

“Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one and for helping artists extend their world. I just want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and turn off social media, safeguard your mental health. Pause, touch grass, and do what you were born to do, just like I was born to do this.”

The last time Katy was at the VMAs was in 2017, when she hosted and performed during the star-studded evening.

When revealing she would receive the Video Vanguard Award back in August, Paramount’s president of music, music talent, programming and events and Paramount+’s chief content officer for music, Bruce Gillmer shared in a statement,

“Katy is a musical powerhouse and true pop culture icon. With her game changing creative vision, she has become a global phenomenon and taken over the world’s biggest stages,” he continued. Katy’s prowess will be on full display LIVE on the VMAs with a can’t-miss, career-encompassing performance celebrating her biggest moments and chart-topping hits.”

Watch the full performance below and let us know what you think of Katy Perry’s performance by leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.

For more coverage from the 2024 MTV VMAs, click here.