Beyonc's VMA 2016 Moment

Last night’s VMAs was all about Beyoncé. From being the biggest winner with eight awards, to her extended performance of Lemonade,

Beyoncé awed the crowd with her performance, opening up with Pray You Catch Me, transitioning into Hold Up and Sorry, and powerfully finishing off with Formation — all songs that are dear to her heart. The symbol and representation of Beyoncé as a fierce, passionate woman was further confirmed with the guests she personally invited to the show, the mothers of four unarmed black men that were killed recently in the United States: Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant and Eric Garner. Beyoncé was seen photographed with the mothers on the white carpet, paying tribute to their sons and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Other noteworthy artists who made an impact at the VMA stage include Rihanna, who received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from DrakeBritney Spears, who marked her return to the stage with Glory, a song containing a mix of her past and her modern day self; as well as DNCE, whose catchy summer-ready songs won them the Artist to Watch Award.

Read more: Our August cover story featuring Joe Jonas

Other remarkable artists who received awards include Drake with Hotline Bling for Best Hip-Hop Video, Twenty One Pilots with Heathens for Best Rock Video, Calvin Harris and Rihanna with This Is What You Came For for Best Male Video, Fifth Harmony and Ty Dolla Sign with Work From Home for Best Collaboration, the late David Bowie with Blackstar for Best Art Direction, Coldplay with Up&Up for Best Visual Effects, and Calvin Harris and Disciples with How Deep Is Your Love for Best Electronic Dance Video.